45
viking8
8y

Have people using React actually read the license agreement? Basically, if Facebook want your app, they can develop a similar, and revoke your license to React...

Comments
  • 8
    Yeah, the license for React is pretty restrictive. There's also some interesting things in there about patents too.
  • 5
    I love what Facebook engineering is doing but I really can't stand Facebook and their restrictive licence which all say they own anything you create.
  • 3
    Lawyers, man -_-

    But I think it's worth pointing out that the basic licence is a standard BSD licence, with all the freedom that entails. Then the lawyers have made them add an extra clause that basically says, "if you bring any patent claims against Facebook, your licence to React is revoked".

    From my reading (and IANAL etc) they can't just revoke your licence because they're in a bad mood.
  • 4
    @fuckfuckityfuck true - but I think that effectively means if you're a company, in order to use React, you're pretty much granting FB the right to use any one of your patents.
  • 2
    Dan Abramov made a statement about this, and what you're saying isn't correct. Basically it means if you sue facebook, they'll revoke your licence. If they sue first, the license specifically says you wont lose the right to your site.

    https://twitter.com/dan_abramov/...
  • 1
    @yusijs please suggest how can I make them sue me first, for the licence to be granted inline with BSD.
  • 3
    1. Make something unique
    2. Make it amazing
    3. Dont sue facebook.
    4. ???
    5. Profit!

    That's it. Just dont sue facebook and you're good.
  • 2
    @dfox out of curiosity, for which part in devRant do you use React?
  • 0
    That's why I only make simple stuff. I won't be using React Native. I wonder what PolymerJs says 🤔
  • 1
    @tahnik we don't use it for anything right now. We are thinking of using React Native eventually though.
  • 0
    @dfox I rly wouldnt worry - the license isnt as bad as it comes off, and they have that clause to ward of patent trolls. Again, just dont sue facebook and you're fine. :p
  • 1
    @yusijs it's not that problematic for us, but for companies with patent portfolios, it's a big issue because like I said before your more or less giving Facebook the ability to use any of your parents without any kind of licensing. IMO it would be more fair if it specified any patent having to do with web technologies, or something that could come into contention with React.

    I don't think it's great that a big company has to pass on React because they don't want to put their entire patent library at risk, which if you do some searching, unfortunately has happened a lot.
  • 1
    @dfox fair enough. I personally wouldn't worry, as I'm pretty sure facebook wouldnt go after anyone (I've yet to read about a single lawsuit instantiated by facebook). However, I see your point - it's a potential issue. Keep in mind that lawyers need to eat to! :-)
  • 1
    @yusijs haha yeah. And yeah I mean for us it's not a worry.
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