4 ms·

Just curious, does AGPL require actively publishing the source code, or making it available upon request within a reasonable timeframe?

gpm 2y ago
My understanding is it requires active publishing, but I'm not a lawyer. Here's what I believe to be the relevant section > 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. I'm particularly looking at "from a network server at no charge, through some standard or customary means of facilitating copying of software", I don't believe "upon emailed request" qualifies.
- sgtnoodle 2y ago
  Is email not customary? It seems like it would be fine as long as they respond in a timely manner, and provide access instructions. Also, in this situation it seems like that's exactly what happened. I suppose what might be non-compliant is if their website doesn't explicitly document the process to access the source, i.e. "send an email to this addressm to request the most up-to-date source code."
  - gpm 2y ago
    Email is customary for some things of course, however I don't believe it is a "customary means of facilitating copying of software". Nor do I believe it is "providing access to the Corresponding Source from a network server". It needs to be both to satisfy the license.
margalabargala 2y ago
The latter.
db48x 2y ago
It depends on how the program is itself distributed. For programs that users interact with over the network, the program must have a way to offer those users the source code as well, though it need not be located on the same server. Paragraph 6d: Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place (gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no further charge. You need not require recipients to copy the Corresponding Source along with the object code. If the place to copy the object code is a network server, the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated by you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities, provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code saying where to find the Corresponding Source. Regardless of what server hosts the Corresponding Source, you remain obligated to ensure that it is available for as long as needed to satisfy these requirements. This just means that it should have some user–visible page that describes the software and any open–source components it uses, and that this same page should offer a way to download their source code. If you use an open–source component but haven’t modified it, you can send your users to its own webpage to download it if you prefer, but if you have modified it then you have to allow them to download the modified code.
- truthsocial 2y ago
  Which we maintain at: https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ -- the issue is that had gotten out of date.
  - ok_dad 2y ago
    So, you don’t maintain it. Irregular updates aren’t maintenance. Maintenance is regular and scheduled. Stop trying to weasel your way out of the law!
    - db48x 2y ago
      Not the law, these are just license terms.

gpm 2y ago

My understanding is it requires active publishing, but I'm not a lawyer. Here's what I believe to be the relevant section > 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. I'm particularly looking at "from a network server at no charge, through some standard or customary means of facilitating copying of software", I don't believe "upon emailed request" qualifies.

sgtnoodle 2y ago
Is email not customary? It seems like it would be fine as long as they respond in a timely manner, and provide access instructions. Also, in this situation it seems like that's exactly what happened. I suppose what might be non-compliant is if their website doesn't explicitly document the process to access the source, i.e. "send an email to this addressm to request the most up-to-date source code."
- gpm 2y ago
  Email is customary for some things of course, however I don't believe it is a "customary means of facilitating copying of software". Nor do I believe it is "providing access to the Corresponding Source from a network server". It needs to be both to satisfy the license.

margalabargala 2y ago

The latter.

db48x 2y ago

It depends on how the program is itself distributed. For programs that users interact with over the network, the program must have a way to offer those users the source code as well, though it need not be located on the same server. Paragraph 6d: Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place (gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no further charge. You need not require recipients to copy the Corresponding Source along with the object code. If the place to copy the object code is a network server, the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated by you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities, provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code saying where to find the Corresponding Source. Regardless of what server hosts the Corresponding Source, you remain obligated to ensure that it is available for as long as needed to satisfy these requirements. This just means that it should have some user–visible page that describes the software and any open–source components it uses, and that this same page should offer a way to download their source code. If you use an open–source component but haven’t modified it, you can send your users to its own webpage to download it if you prefer, but if you have modified it then you have to allow them to download the modified code.

truthsocial 2y ago
Which we maintain at: https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ https://help.truthsocial.com/legal/open-source/ -- the issue is that had gotten out of date.
- ok_dad 2y ago
  So, you don’t maintain it. Irregular updates aren’t maintenance. Maintenance is regular and scheduled. Stop trying to weasel your way out of the law!
  - db48x 2y ago
    Not the law, these are just license terms.