Licensing Strategy
The LOGGER software is provided in what we call a
Published Source model. Each use of the software requires a paid license
from Dragonnorth Group. Users of the software
get the source
code and are free to modify the software. Modified versions that
have additional distribution will owe a license fee to Dragonnorth Group.
Hardware Customer
When Hardware is purchased from the Dragonnorth Group and that Hardware
comes with our software installed, a license for as many sensors as can
be attached to that device is included in the hardware cost.
Honor System
Dragonnorth Group expects that users of our software will pay the
appropriate software license fees. We do not build locking into our
software to prevent use without payment. We may put some
usage reporting tools into the software. At the moment we rely on
the honor system for people to pay for the software they use.
License Fees
License fees have a number of different models. The primary
model is a small charge per sensor. The current charge is
one cent ($0.01) per sensor with a five dollar ($5.00) minimum
order.
Maker Example 1
You are a Maker and bought a LOGGER from Dragonnorth. You modified
the software and added your own custom hardware for monitoring
your home. Your system uses the Dragonnorth LOGGER module but now has 15 I/O pins and 4 temperature sensors
attached. The license that came with your LOGGER module allows this
usage. There is no additional charge.
Maker Example 2
You are a Maker and want to use Dragonnorth
software on your own custom hardware that you built for your monitoring
your home. Your processor
running the Dragonnorth software has 15 I/O pins and 4 temperature sensors
attached. Your cost for the number of sensors is ninteen cents ($0.19), but you
must pay a minimum charge of $5.00. You are welcome to add more
sensors (up to 500 total) without any additional charge.
Manufacturer example
You build temperature sensors. You would like to ship a demo
module with each sensor. The demo module has a socket for the
sensor and a processor running Dragonnorth software. You plan to
ship 1700 of these modules in May. If you pay for the month of May you owe
Dragonnorth Group a penny per sensor or $17.00 This is larger than
$5.00 so the minimum charge does not participate in the
price. In June you ship 10 more modules and make a seperate
payment for June. For June you owe five dollars, ($5.00) the
minimum charge. Had you anticipated the additional shipment and
paid for it with your May payment you could have paid $17.10 in
May.
Support Costs
The software licensing discussed above does not include support.
Support may be offered by Dragonnorth for additional charges. Early in our
product lifetime support will only be offered on a time, travel and
materials cost basis.
|
