Legal Software Information
What "Legal Software" Means
1. Properly Licensed
- You (or your organization) have the right license or permission to use the software.
- This could mean buying a license, using free/open-source software with correct attribution, or using software that's included in a subscription/service.
2. Not Pirated
- It's not illegally downloaded or shared.
- It's not cracked or altered to bypass licensing checks.
3. Compliant with Terms of Use
- You're using the software only in ways the license allows (e.g., personal vs commercial use).
- You're not redistributing it in a way that violates the developer's policies.
Examples of Legal Software
- Microsoft Office installed with a valid license key
- Ubuntu Linux (open-source and free to use)
- Adobe Photoshop under a paid subscription
- An npm package used according to its open-source license (e.g., MIT, GPL)
Risks of Illegal Software
- Security vulnerabilities
- No updates or support
- Legal penalties or fines
- Ethical concerns
End of Life (EOL) Software
EOL stands for End of Life in the context of software and hardware. When a product reaches EOL, it means the vendor or developer has officially stopped supporting or updating it.
In Software, EOL Means:
- No more updates – including security patches, bug fixes, or feature improvements
- No official support – you can't contact the vendor for help anymore
- Deprecated – the product is outdated, and continued use may be risky
Examples:
- Windows 7 reached EOL on January 14, 2020
- Python 2.7 reached EOL on January 1, 2020
- An npm package marked as "deprecated" or no longer maintained can be considered EOL
Why EOL Matters:
- Security vulnerabilities won't be fixed
- Compatibility issues with newer software/hardware
- Can break compliance rules (for businesses or regulated industries)
- Risk of system failures or data loss
SnapEnhance Licensing
SnapEnhance is provided under the MIT License, which allows for both personal and commercial use. The software is properly licensed and compliant with all applicable laws.
All third-party libraries and components used in SnapEnhance are also properly licensed and used in accordance with their respective license agreements.
For information about our use of AI/ML technologies and related third-party services, please see our AI/ML Information page.
SnapEnhance EOL Policy
SnapEnhance is actively maintained and supported. We are committed to providing regular updates, security patches, and feature improvements.
In the event that SnapEnhance reaches End of Life (EOL), we will provide:
- At least 12 months advance notice before EOL
- Security patches during the transition period
- Migration guidance to alternative solutions
- Options to export and preserve your data
We regularly review all dependencies to ensure none of our critical components have reached EOL status.
Last updated: April 19, 2025