It might seem a bit funny to say, especially since I'm still only about a tenth of the way towards the barely started point in both the projects that I have going on. but I'm uncertain of what open source license to use.

I've been a bit unsure for a while -at least since the mooltipass project changed it's license, I'm pretty sure that there is no sense in re-inventing the wheel so whatever license I use will have to be compatible with that particular license.

Originally I'd planned to invent my own licenses that simply would say, completely un-restricted and open -do what you like with it. but that would never be compatible with any existing license.
And since I've essentially "called out" commercial failings, in both of the projects that I'm doing, at either an expense and complexity, or saying that nothing commercial exists that does this at this level, it would seem like a crazy idea to effectively say to those businesses, I see a gap in the market, and here's a product you can use to fill it, and I want nothing for the work that I've put into it. -and yet at the same time a licenses that is too restrictive would kill any interest in a project that is supposed to be open source. And compared to large manufacturing corporations in foreign countries that have no care for intellectual property laws, one guy trying to apply a license might be like Canute trying to stop the incoming tide.


I'm also aware that copyright can be asserted to words, and not designs, essentially you can't really copyright or license hardware without staking your legal claim via an expensive patent route. I guess one blessing in all of this is that the hardware designs of what I'm doing are fairly well understood by most, use commodity components, and it's the software that supplies the special sauce... -and software is a copyrightable "entity".


So, suggestions on a postcard please (or at least in a comments.)

I'm looking for a license scheme that would enable any "user" of the hardware/software to freely obtain make and use the hardware and software. but at the same time would compel a "business" to need to seek permission for manufacture and distribution.


Basically, if you want to "use" or make the thing yourself, then I'd assert no restrictions what-so-ever, non-commercial people should be free, free as in without cost and without restriction.
But, if a business wants to manufacture and sell in bulk, and make money from my work. Then I'd like a tiny slice of that pie.