Can someone point me to a sample of a license agreement for source code online?
I am doing some software work for a friend - basically for free. I am fine with him having the source code, changing the source code, profiting from any results; but I want to own the original code and be allowed to use it as I see fit.
IOW, giving it to him does not yield my rights to it.
If I have to, I suppose I will get a lawyer, but I hate to spend that kind of money on work that I will not be paid for, especially since I am on medical leave and finances are tight.
So I am hoping that I can find an example online that says pretty much what I want it to.
I think that you’re a bit confused as to what a software license is for. As the author of the code, you are the copyright holder*. As the copyright holder, you have the right to do pretty much anything you like with the code. What a software license does is grant other people rights to do things with the code. So the real question to ask here is, what do you want to allow your friend to be able to do with the code? If you want to put basically no limits on him, I’d suggest the 3-clause BSD license:
Basically, your friend can distribute the code(in source or binary form) to anyone he likes. If your friend wishes, he may give the recipients the right to further distribute the code(and they can do the same). If your friend makes modifications, he can prevent people from distributing the code themselves. You also disclaim any warranties – in other words, if the code fails, you can’t be sued.
There are cases where the author of something is not the copyright holder – like if you’re an employee and wrote the work as part of your job.
Use the BSD license unless you know why you can’t or don’t want to. Creative Commons licenses are rarely applied to code in the real world, but the BSD license has been in active use since the 1970s.