# Maple Open Tech License (MOTL) Version 1.1

**Source-Available · Time-Released · Fair Use (Commercial Restrictions)**

Copyright © 2025 Maple Open Tech

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## License Parameters

- **Licensed Work:** [SOFTWARE NAME]
- **Version:** [VERSION NUMBER]
- **Release Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
- **Change Date:** Four (4) years from the Release Date, or [YYYY-MM-DD]
- **Change License:** MIT License (https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
- **Licensor:** Maple Open Tech (https://mapleopentech.ca)

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## Plain-English Summary (Non-Binding)

### Before the Change Date

- ✅ View, audit, and study the source code
- ✅ Personal, academic, evaluation, and non-production use
- ✅ Internal testing and proof-of-concept
- ✅ Submit contributions

- ❌ Production or business use without a Commercial License
- ❌ Hosting or SaaS use without a Commercial License
- ❌ Competing commercial services

### After the Change Date

- ✅ This version becomes MIT-licensed with no restrictions

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## 1. Definitions

**“Licensed Work”** means the software, source code, object code, documentation, and related materials identified above.

**“Licensor”** means Maple Open Tech.

**“You”** or **“Licensee”** means the individual or entity exercising rights under this License.

**“Production Use”** means use of the Licensed Work in a live or operational environment that provides value to You or to third parties, including business operations, commercial services, or processing real (non-test) data.

**“Service Offering”** means providing the functionality of the Licensed Work to third parties as a hosted, managed, cloud, or software-as-a-service offering.

**“Non-Production Use”** means personal, academic, research, evaluation, development, testing, or proof-of-concept use.

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## 2. Grant of Rights

Subject to the terms of this License, the Licensor grants You a limited, worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

1. Copy, view, and study the Licensed Work;
2. Modify the Licensed Work for Non-Production Use;
3. Create derivative works for Non-Production Use;
4. Submit contributions to the Licensed Work.

Production Use or Service Offerings require a separate Commercial License.

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## 3. Permitted Uses Without a Commercial License

The following uses are permitted without a Commercial License:

- Personal, non-commercial use;
- Internal evaluation for a reasonable period not exceeding ninety (90) days;
- Academic teaching or non-commercial research;
- Use by registered non-profit or charitable organizations for non-commercial purposes;
- Government use for internal or public-service purposes (excluding resale or hosting).

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## 4. Restrictions

Before the Change Date, You may not:

1. Use the Licensed Work in Production Use without a Commercial License;
2. Offer the Licensed Work as a Service Offering without a Commercial License;
3. Use the Licensed Work to create a competing commercial product or service;
4. Remove or obscure copyright or proprietary notices;
5. Use Licensor trademarks without written permission;
6. Sublicense, sell, rent, lease, or transfer the Licensed Work.

These restrictions apply to modified and derivative works.

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## 5. Time-Release Provision

On the Change Date, this License automatically and irrevocably converts to the Change License for the specified version of the Licensed Work. No action by the Licensor is required.

This applies only to the identified version. New versions may have different Change Dates.

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## 6. Commercial Licensing

Production Use, Service Offerings, or redistribution prior to the Change Date require a Commercial License, available from Maple Open Tech under separate terms.

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## 7. Contributions

By submitting a contribution, You grant the Licensor a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, modify, sublicense, and distribute the contribution under this License, the Change License, or a Commercial License.

You represent that You have the legal right to grant this license.

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## 8. Patent Grant

Each contributor grants You a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free patent license to use the Licensed Work as permitted under this License.

If You initiate patent litigation alleging infringement by the Licensed Work, all rights granted to You under this License terminate automatically.

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## 9. Acceptance

By using the Licensed Work, You agree to be bound by this License.  
If You do not agree, do not use the Licensed Work.

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## 10. No Warranty

THE LICENSED WORK IS PROVIDED **“AS IS”** AND **“AS AVAILABLE”**, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

You assume all risk arising from use of the Licensed Work.

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## 11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event shall the Licensor or contributors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of data, profits, or business interruption.

For free or non-commercial use, the Licensor’s total aggregate liability shall not exceed **CAD $100**.

Different liability terms may apply under a separate Commercial License.

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## 12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This License is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Subject to applicable law, any dispute arising out of or relating to this License shall be brought exclusively in the courts of competent jurisdiction located in Ontario, Canada.

Nothing in this License prevents the Licensor from seeking injunctive or equitable relief in the Federal Court of Canada to protect its intellectual property.

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## 13. No Consumer Offering / No Foreign Targeting

The Licensed Work is intended for professional, developer, academic, and organizational use. It is not intended for consumer or household use.

The Licensed Work is not specifically directed to users in any jurisdiction outside Canada. Use of the Licensed Work outside Canada is at the Licensee’s sole risk.

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## 14. Termination

This License terminates automatically upon breach. Upon termination, You must cease use and destroy all copies of the Licensed Work.

Termination does not affect rights granted under the Change License after the Change Date.

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## 15. General Provisions

If any provision of this License is held unenforceable, it shall be severed and the remainder enforced.

This License constitutes the entire agreement regarding the Licensed Work.

You may not assign this License without written consent from the Licensor.

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## Contact

- **Licensing:** licensing@mapleopentech.ca  
- **Website:** https://mapleopentech.ca/license

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*Maple Open Tech License (MOTL) v1.1 – Canada-Centric*
