Aug 07
Beerware is software that is released under a very liberal license. The Beerware license provides the end user with the right to use a software program and its source code for any purpose. Should the user ever meet the program’s author, the user is encouraged to buy the author a beer.
The term was invented by John Bristor in 1987. Many variations have been implemented, including the short and sweet Beerware license by Poul-Henning Kamp:
/* * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * "THE BEER-WARE LICENSE" (Revision 42): * <phk@FreeBSD.ORG> wrote this file. As long as you retain this notice you * can do whatever you want with this stuff. If we meet some day, and you think * this stuff is worth it, you can buy me a beer in return Poul-Henning Kamp * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
Source: Wikipedia