licensing
Is there a license that only allows distribution once modified?
<p>TL;DR: Is there a license for derivatives but not copies?</p>
<p>I'm fine with my work being modified (and those modified versions being redistributed), but I don't want the base thing just stolen and re-uploaded by someone lazier than me but with more reach.</p>
<p>Is there a standard license for this, or should I contact a lawyer to draft a custom one?</p>

<p>No Open Source or &quot;Free&quot; license (in the sense that the FSF uses the term &quot;free&quot;) would act in the way that the question describes. Nor does any permissive license that I am aware of.</p>
<p>A license as described could be created, perhaps by starting with na permissive license and modifying it. But to do what the OP seems to want, it would need to have some concept of &quot;significant modification&quot; or else a thoroughly trivial might well permit distribution. Is the OP really OK with changing one character in one variable name, or adding one line of code being enough for redistribution? If not, the OP needs to consider how much change is required, and why.</p>
<p>If someone takes the work published by the OP and redistributes it, leaving the OP's name on the copyright notice and in other places totally intact, and in no way claiming to have created the work, and not charging for it, is that something the OP truly thinks of as &quot;stealing&quot; the work? All or almost all permissive and open source licenses require proper attribution to be maintained unless the author waives this. Some forbid commercial use. Wuld such a license satisfy the OP's wishes?</p>
<p>As some comments point out, only the law-abiding are much troubled by the terms of a license. If someone is willing to &quot;steal&quot;, that person might well be willing to violate license terms. The practical consequence is a possible suit for copyright infringement, which may not seem like much of a risk, given the upfront costs involved, and the perhaps small damages likely for a work of limited commercial value.</p>
