In v2.6 we'll change the sourcecode license under which we ship the runtime library sourcecode. At the moment this is a BSD2 variant, and we'll change this to a more limiting variant. The main reason is our Linq provider which will be part of the runtime library and which will be one of the very few Linq providers in the world implementing Linq in full, and we don't want to give that sourcecode away for free to our competitors.

The main difference is that we will remove the right to distribute our runtime sourcecode to non-licensees. You're still allowed to alter the runtime sourcecode as you see fit, compile it and distribute that compiled version to anyone you want, and you also don't have to open your version to anyone. Below is the changed license we'll use for the runtime library sourcecode.

NOTE: this is the usage license for the sourcecode of the runtime library of LLBLGen Pro. Nothing changes for the compiled runtime library dlls: you are free to distribute, use them as you see fit, if you're a licensee.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// LLBLGen Pro is (c) 2002-2008 Solutions Design. All rights reserved.
// http://www.llblgen.com
// The sourcecode for the ORM Support classes has been made available to LLBLGen Pro licensees
// so they can modify, update and/or extend it. Distribution of this sourcecode in textual, non-compiled, 
// non-binary form to non-licensees is prohibited. Distribution of binary compiled versions of this 
// sourcecode to non-licensees has been granted under the following license.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// COPYRIGHTS:
// Copyright (c)2002-2008 Solutions Design. All rights reserved.
// http://www.llblgen.com
// 
// The ORM Support classes library sourcecode is released to LLBLGen Pro licensees under the 
// following license:
// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// 
// Redistribution and use of the sourcecode in compiled, binary forms, with or without modification, 
// are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: 
//
// 1) Redistributions must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of 
//  conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials 
//  provided with the distribution. 
// 2) Redistribution of the sourcecode in textual, non-binary, non-compiled form is prohibited.
// 
// THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY SOLUTIONS DESIGN ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR 
// IMPLIED WARRANTIES,  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF 
// MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A  PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO 
// EVENT SHALL SOLUTIONS DESIGN OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR  ANY DIRECT, 
// INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES 
// (INCLUDING, BUT  NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
//  LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND 
// ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,  STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT 
// (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE 
// USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 
//
// The views and conclusions contained in the software and documentation are those of 
// the authors and should not be interpreted as representing official policies, either 
// expressed or implied,  of Solutions Design. 

The difference of not being able to distribute our sourcecode anymore has an impact to people who have to hand over all sourcecode in their project to their customers. With v2.6, their customers have to have a license to obtain the sourcecode for LLBLGen Pro's runtime library. We find this fair as most competitors (Except open source variants) have even more restrictive licenses for their sourcecode, plus Microsoft doesn't distribute the .NET sourcecode, used as binary compiled form in any project by our customers as well, to non-licensees of VS.NET (and even then just a small part).

For questions about this change, please send an email to info [AT] llblgen [DOT] com.