├── LICENSE.md └── README.md /LICENSE.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | I, [Name], direct that upon the conditions provided, [Executor Name] shall be given immediate access to this repository (this "Repository") and all of its contents (the “Contents”), and that the ownership and public availability of the Repository and its Contents shall be modified as I have specified below. 2 | 3 | This directive applies in the event: 4 | 5 | *(Pick some or all of the conditions which you wish to apply)* 6 | 7 | - Of my death 8 | - I become unconscious and, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, I will not regain consciousness. 9 | *(add any additional conditions)* 10 | 11 | *(If you want ownership of the Repository to transfer to a third party, include this sentence)* 12 | 13 | Upon the occurrence of the event(s) stated above, it is my preference that ownership of the Repository be immediately transferred to [New Owner Name], without the requirement of payment or other consideration. 14 | 15 | Upon the occurrence of the event(s) stated above, it is my preference that, with respect to the Contents of this Repository: 16 | 17 | *(Pick some or all of the conditions which you wish to apply)* 18 | 19 | - To the extent that I own the Contents, ownership of the Contents should be immediately transferred to [New Owner Name], without the requirement of payment or other consideration. 20 | - To the extent that the I own the Contents, and the Contents are software code ("Software"): 21 | - the Software should be made open source under the [SPDX identifier] license. 22 | - The Software should be destroyed, to the degree that is reasonably digitally possible. 23 | - Ownership of the copyright in the Software should be immediately transferred to [New Copyright Holder name], without the requirement of payment or other consideration. 24 | 25 | Furthermore, I direct that the following actions be taken: 26 | 27 | *(Include this section if you would like to include additional directives)* 28 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /README.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # The RIP License 2 | 3 | > “It turns out, people die all the time.” 4 | > 5 | > — [@stevekrause](https://github.com/stevekrause) 6 | 7 | Dying is going to suck for you, but it doesn’t have to suck for the people that rely on your software. The RIP License can be placed in your private repos to specify what should happen to their contents in the event of your death or permanant incapacitation. 8 | 9 | Enjoy long-winded prose? Read about why I created this in [the announcement post](https://medium.com/@cameronmcefee/future-proofing-with-the-rip-license-991bac1af1bb). 10 | 11 | ## Usage 12 | 13 | 1. Copy the contents of `LICENSE` into the root directory of your repo as your LICENSE file. 14 | 15 | 1. Choose the conditions you wish to apply and update the names where appropriate. 16 | 17 | 1. In the section of your will or living will where you specify what should happen to your digital assets, add the following text. 18 | 19 | > I name [Full Name] as the executor of my software projects hosted at [Site]. They are to be given access to my private code to follow the directions I have given in each individual LICENSE file. 20 | 21 | If you don't have a will or living will, the contents of the RIP License you select may still apply. While there are no guarantees in life (other than, well, you know), making sure that others know about the RIP License you've selected can help ensure that your wishes are honored. 22 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------