After wading vast, swamp-like cesspools of examples and dissections of End User License Agreements (EULAs), I came away mentally numbed and thoroughly disgusted by what even a fledgling software business must do to operate in the field today.

Here's a scenario:

An audio engineer has a high-profile client in the studio. It's a big-money session and potentially a big break into a larger playing field for the studio. Said engineer has installed software from Daevlmakr Media just a few days prior to the client's scheduled block of time.

This engineer, however, has poor computer hygiene, and as a result loses their main audio drive just as the sessions are wrapping. Of course, they have no backups.

The client is pissed. Their product is going to be late. Their deal may fall through. The engineer has lost thousands of dollars and the potential for many thousands more.

Lawyers are materialized. Lawsuits are brandished. The engineer can see bankruptcy in the future. What to do?

The blame game rears an ugly head. The engineer convinces the client's legal representation the fault is with the audio software recently installed. Lawyers, looking for deeper pockets than those of a small studio on the brink of collapse, readily agree. Everyone gets in line to sue Daevlmakr Media for loss of anything they can concoct.

Except... this engineer clicked through my EULA and agreed to limitations on Daevlmakr's liability and redressment.

The problem, or course, is that many software companies release public betas disguised as fully tested and debugged software (I'm looking at you, Microsoft). Sometimes data is lost due to shoddy coding and lack of testing. What should be a relationship of honest understandings is turned into a corporate pillaging spree. Here, I can only do my best to deliver software as stable and useful as I can create it.

Since I couldn't avoid having an EULA, I decided to roll my own value-added version.

Enter the Question Your Beliefs License, v1.0 (QYBL). There is a commercial version for releases like the DaevlPlugs (QYBL-C), and a non-commercial version basically compatible with a Creative Commons license for items like Monome applications or Daevlmakr give-aways I'll be releasing free to the community.

The basic QYBL is quite standard, serving to indemnify and limit, cover and protect the Daevl's ass. The fun, value-added part is within the Conditions Of Use:

You must agree to Question Your Beliefs whenever you use the DAEVLPLUGS. While engaged in direct use of the DAEVLPLUGS, you are not to question the beliefs of others, only your own.

"I agree to Question My Beliefs as described in the QYBL-C, and will continue to do so as a condition of continued use of the DAEVLPLUGS. Should I ever stop Questioning My Beliefs, I will discontinue my use of the DAEVLPLUGS."