Document background
The Restrictive Open Source License is designed for organizations and individuals operating under Nigerian jurisdiction who wish to make their software available as open source while maintaining certain controls over its use and distribution. This license type is particularly relevant when the software owner wants to balance transparency and collaboration with specific commercial or operational restrictions. It incorporates provisions from Nigerian intellectual property law while adhering to international open source principles, making it suitable for both domestic and international use. The document addresses key aspects such as modification rights, distribution requirements, commercial use limitations, and compliance obligations, while providing clear terms for enforcement under Nigerian law. It's commonly used for proprietary software transitioning to partial open source, specialized industry applications, or when protecting specific competitive advantages while benefiting from open source community engagement.
