2

I'm going to make an annotation tool for deep learning using PyQT.

Trained models are sold on the product.

My annotation tool is not sold with the product.

so, Customer can't see my annotation tool.

The annotation tool I created is only used inside the company (with few co-worker) for preparing training dataset.

In this case, is a commercial license required?

1

1 Answer 1

2

It depends on your objective.

PyQT is distributed under a variety of licenses, and you can basically select the one that fits best for your purpose.

You could select the GPL license, and then run your tool as a service on a server accessible to your customers (SaaS), which does not count as distribution under the terms of GPL. This way you would not therefore need to disclose your own code to your customers.

You could again select the GPL license, distribute your product (including PyQT code) to your customers, and establish a pay-per-use model, where your customers pay you for each trained model they create. In this case you likely have to provide the source code to your customers under the GPL license (and eventually allow your customers to modify the code to by-pass your business model).

You could select the commercial license and distribute your product (including PyQT code) to your customers, and establish a pay-per-use model, where your customers pay you for each trained model they create. In this case you would not have to provide the source code to your customers.

There are many more possible ways for you to implement you business model, the common thing for all of them is that as soon as you distribute the application under GPL you have to provide the source code of your app, and to avoid that you can select the commercial license.

3
  • I'm not sure how the GPL pay-per-use model would work; you propose distributing GPL code but requiring that the customer pay for each model trained on datasets prepared with this GPL annotation tool?
    – MadHatter
    Mar 17, 2022 at 8:08
  • well.. thanks your answer.. but I dont have plan to provide our annotation tool to anyone without my co-worker. So. as I understood, License is not needed right? Mar 17, 2022 at 13:47
  • @Byung-HyunYoon Correct, if you just use it in-house and do not distribute, then the GPL license will be perfect for you. The commercial license is not needed. Mar 18, 2022 at 11:07

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.