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Ask HN: Devs of dual-license OSS, how do track “free” usage?

5 pointsby riyakhanna1983over 2 years ago
Posting again for (hopefully) a wider reach this time.<p>Developers of open-source software tools&#x2F;packages under a dual license, how do you track who is using your &quot;free&quot; software so as to sell the commercial license?

1 comment

brezelgoringover 2 years ago
Not one but I&#x27;d check if the host where the program is used from is in a Windows domain, check for non-conventional local IP ranges (10.x.x.x or 172.x.x.x), or use some other information like the e-mail used on the record, is it free @gmail or @bigcompany? You can &#x27;wargame&#x27; this, if you want.<p>At the end of the day, you should probably still &#x27;suggest&#x27; they buy licenses. More aggressively each time as more and more signs come up. Maybe mail yourself about who could be a company and reach them over the phone to ask?