Open API-licence for private companies
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | VIKTORIA SWEDISH ICT AB - IT-forskningsinstitutet Viktoria AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 557 000 |
| Project duration | December 2012 - December 2013 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Compiling license terms for APIs that both meet business and legal needs and simultaneously attracts developers is difficult and often a major barrier for companies releasing APIs. The purpose of this project has been to lower this barrier. The goal of this project has been to compile and publicly and freely publish as well as disseminate an API license with attached guidance for privately owned companies. The results have been published at http://apilicens.se/
Results and expected effects
The results consist of 1) an assessment of important business decisions and legal matters (validated by industry professionals) 2) an open and freely available as well as fully configurable API license with attached guidance and finally 3) dissemination to relevant actors. Expected effects are considerably lowered investments costs regarding license compilation for both incumbent firms and start-up ventures, intending to release APIs. For larger actors already having released APIs the expected effects of the license is to become a de facto standard for the Swedish market.
Approach and implementation
1)An expert-based assessment of appropriate legal considerations, business decisions and developer demands 2)Validation of the assessment through a full-day workshop with 20 external participants and a Facebook group 3)Compilation of license terms based on the validated assessment 4)Feedback on license terms from the Facebook group and direct interaction with relevant actors 5)Publishing license terms, guidance and additional information on http://apilicens.se 6)Dissemination through relevant conferences, blogs and news sites as well as direct interactions