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The problem I have with AGPL is that you need to think about it, even if you just run the software and are not distributing it. Or rather AGPL forces you to dis

by zokier 6y ago

The problem I have with AGPL is that you need to think about it, even if you just run the software and are not distributing it. Or rather AGPL forces you to distribute the software you run. This is in stark contrast to all other mainstream licenses where in general you don't need to think about the license at all if you are not distributing the software, which makes very worry free experience.

gpanders 6y ago
> Or rather AGPL forces you to distribute the software you run. No it does not. Using AGPL software does not suddenly make your own software a derived work.
- djb_hackernews 6y ago
  Tell that to the lawyers who are paid lots of money to be risk adverse. As others point out, the law operates on precedent, no lawyer wants their decision to be the one that makes their employer a test piece.
- zokier 6y ago
  If you run AGPL licensed software you must be prepared to distribute it to its users.
pabs3 6y ago
The source distribution requirement only kicks in if you modify the AGPLed software.
- pabs3 6y ago
  Someone seems to have downvoted my comment without reading the AGPL.
  - pabs3 6y ago
    It is even mentioned in the introduction: "The GNU Affero General Public License is designed specifically to ensure that, in such cases, the modified source code becomes available to the community. It requires the operator of a network server to provide the source code of the modified version running there to the users of that server. Therefore, public use of a modified version, on a publicly accessible server, gives the public access to the source code of the modified version." Here is the clause about modification: "13. Remote Network Interaction; Use with the GNU General Public License. Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, if you modify the Program, your modified version must prominently offer all users interacting with it remotely through a computer network (if your version supports such interaction) an opportunity to receive the Corresponding Source of your version by providing access to the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge, through some standard or customary means of facilitating copying of software. This Corresponding Source shall include the Corresponding Source for any work covered by version 3 of the GNU General Public License that is incorporated pursuant to the following paragraph. Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, you have permission to link or combine any covered work with a work licensed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License into a single combined work, and to convey the resulting work. The terms of this License will continue to apply to the part which is the covered work, but the work with which it is combined will remain governed by version 3 of the GNU General Public License." https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html

by zokier 6y ago

gpanders 6y ago

> Or rather AGPL forces you to distribute the software you run. No it does not. Using AGPL software does not suddenly make your own software a derived work.

djb_hackernews 6y ago
Tell that to the lawyers who are paid lots of money to be risk adverse. As others point out, the law operates on precedent, no lawyer wants their decision to be the one that makes their employer a test piece.
zokier 6y ago
If you run AGPL licensed software you must be prepared to distribute it to its users.

pabs3 6y ago

The source distribution requirement only kicks in if you modify the AGPLed software.

pabs3 6y ago
Someone seems to have downvoted my comment without reading the AGPL.
- pabs3 6y ago
  It is even mentioned in the introduction: "The GNU Affero General Public License is designed specifically to ensure that, in such cases, the modified source code becomes available to the community. It requires the operator of a network server to provide the source code of the modified version running there to the users of that server. Therefore, public use of a modified version, on a publicly accessible server, gives the public access to the source code of the modified version." Here is the clause about modification: "13. Remote Network Interaction; Use with the GNU General Public License. Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, if you modify the Program, your modified version must prominently offer all users interacting with it remotely through a computer network (if your version supports such interaction) an opportunity to receive the Corresponding Source of your version by providing access to the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge, through some standard or customary means of facilitating copying of software. This Corresponding Source shall include the Corresponding Source for any work covered by version 3 of the GNU General Public License that is incorporated pursuant to the following paragraph. Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, you have permission to link or combine any covered work with a work licensed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License into a single combined work, and to convey the resulting work. The terms of this License will continue to apply to the part which is the covered work, but the work with which it is combined will remain governed by version 3 of the GNU General Public License." https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html