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I cannot speak knowledgeably about the original (non-GNU) Affero GPL v1, but about the GNU AGPL v3 I can say: It does not require "forced upstream contribution

I cannot speak knowledgeably about the original (non-GNU) Affero GPL v1, but about the GNU AGPL v3 I can say: It does not require "forced upstream contributions". What it requires is that users who use the program over the network can get a copy of the source code. Your statement sounds a lot like the FUD about the plain GPL requiring forced upstream contributions; no, it only requires you give the source to those who get a binary from you; the AGPL only requires that you give the source to those who have access to your server instance. Now, there is a cogent argument that applies everything you said not just to the AGPL but the GPL as well; but that does not appear to be the argument that you're making. So I will proceed with the assumption that you consider the GNU GPL v3 to be acceptable (possibly with the exception of the AGPL-compatibility clause in section 13). The only non-name-change-related/reflective difference between the GNU GPL v3 and the GNU AGPL v3 main license text is that the AGPL adds the following paragraph to section 13: > 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. Now, if you're giving your contributions to a for-profit company that can re-license your work to a non-copyleft license... yeah, stop doing that.

LukeShu 3y ago
Following up, > I cannot speak knowledgeably about the original (non-GNU) Affero GPL v1 The only non-name-change-related difference between the GNU GPL v2 and the Affero GPL v1 is the addition of the following item to section 2: > * d) If the Program as you received it is intended to interact with users through a computer network and if, in the version you received, any user interacting with the Program was given the opportunity to request transmission to that user of the Program's complete source code, you must not remove that facility from your modified version of the Program or work based on the Program, and must offer an equivalent opportunity for all users interacting with your Program through a computer network to request immediate transmission by HTTP of the complete source code of your modified version or other derivative work.

LukeShu 3y ago

Following up, > I cannot speak knowledgeably about the original (non-GNU) Affero GPL v1 The only non-name-change-related difference between the GNU GPL v2 and the Affero GPL v1 is the addition of the following item to section 2: > * d) If the Program as you received it is intended to interact with users through a computer network and if, in the version you received, any user interacting with the Program was given the opportunity to request transmission to that user of the Program's complete source code, you must not remove that facility from your modified version of the Program or work based on the Program, and must offer an equivalent opportunity for all users interacting with your Program through a computer network to request immediate transmission by HTTP of the complete source code of your modified version or other derivative work.