MovableType has announced a new licensing regime to go along with a Developer's Release 3.0 and, well, I'm going to be migrating off MT.

I pay for software I like, and the rates that SixApart will be charging are quite in line with what I'd expect and would pay for.

But I don't pay for things which drastically limit what I can do.

As far as I can tell (and admittedly there's little to go on), it's the same software for personal and commercial users, whether you have 5 or twenty authors, or 1-20 weblogs, however the rates (and restrictions) vary depending on the number of authors, number of weblogs, etc.

It's frustrating for me personally because I could easily use MovableType for some of the commercial services I expected to offer this year. I 've gotten quite good at coding MT and combining MT and PHP.

I really like MovableType. I liked that it was portable, open (to the extent I could read and manipulate the code, and change it as necessary within the then existing license). There's a great developer community. And it felt baked, done, ready for use. Not some amorphous blob being developed en masse.

But, as far as I can tell, I still would not be able to offer any services based on MT, no matter what license I acquire for myself, nor recommend to my clients.

Furthermore, since I have started running Google Adsense ads on my personal sites (which have earned a whopping $0.24 to date), the only legitimate license option is a commercial license.

Even running the occasional Amazon tip jar, or a Paypal tip jar would prevent one from using the personal / non-commercial license.

Now, $699 seems hefty for a personal site, but I'd pay it if there were no limits on number of blogs nor number of authors, were there a license option that were applicable.

There isn't an applicable option though.

$699 is not bad for a commercial license. But $699 is unacceptable with the restrictions in place.

And, since the text of the licenses is unavailable to review, I'm left with few options.

So effectively immediately I'm ceasing my development work with MovableType and putting together a migration plan off MT.

I dumped Radio Userland because of various restrictions and the yearly rental fee that was assessed. I have no idea what I would be signing up for if I did license MT.

So, I will route around the damage and find something else to use.

Related articles

• O'Reilly Network: Movable Type 3.0 and Eating. [May. 13, 2004]
• Movable Type 3.0 and Community
• Movable Type 3.0 Developer Edition
• Bye, MovableType
• Howto Kick 'em
• How Not To Price