55
votes
Accepted
Do I have to change license of fork if mainstream changes license?
Not only are you not required to change the licence, you are not permitted to. The code you took at the time was, according to you, conveyed under GPLv3. You've worked on it, and made a derivative ...
- 51.1k
26
votes
Can I copy some AGPL code to my AGPL project?
Put simply: yes, this is allowed. The entire point of open source software is to allow it to be re-used.
Note that the requirements are slightly more than "citing the original source in a comment&...
- 20.7k
23
votes
May I use AGPL license in a desktop application without providing the source code?
There is a lot of confusion regarding modification. You claim that "The lib's code is just used, not modified." That's a very narrow interpretation of modification. In court, integrating the library ...
- 4,596
22
votes
Accepted
Difference between MongoDB SSPL and GNU AGPL
The AGPL requires that the people interacting with program A over a network have the right (and possibility) to obtain a copy of the source code of A. The AGPL does not strictly define what ...
- 32.2k
19
votes
Accepted
AGPLv3 source redistribution: when does it apply to my code for a server-side Java app using an AGPL-licensed library?
There are several Q&A about the AGPLv3 on this site and some answers are sending vague or mixed signals.
Here is a (hopefully) clear and definitive answer with references.
First the AGPLv3 is ...
- 14.7k
19
votes
Can I copy some AGPL code to my AGPL project?
As Philip wrote: Yes, that's possible (subject to certain conditions, which I won't repeat here).
Do note, though, that this will make it harder for Bob to re-license his code with a different license ...
- 566
15
votes
Accepted
Of the differences between the GPLv3 and the AGPLv3 texts: what to make of them?
In this correct to state that the main difference in the terms and conditions is therefore limited to Section 13? or are there any other textual differences that should be considered?
Yes, your ...
- 36.4k
15
votes
Accepted
What are the details of this accusation regarding the "web app loophole"?
The quote appears to be misleading. According to “Why did you decide to write the GNU Affero GPLv3 as a separate license?” in the GPL FAQ, early drafts of the GPLv3 allowed an AGPL-like restriction to ...
- 39.3k
14
votes
How can I properly fork a project that is dual-licensed AGPL/Commercial?
Am I right assuming that the AGPL and GPLv3 are compatible?
Yes, you can combine them, with the combination effectively being governed by the AGPL v3 license:
GPL v3 section 13. Use with the GNU ...
- 7,973
14
votes
Accepted
How do products like MongoDB not violate the GPL licenses?
MongoDB requires contributors to sign a contributor agreement where they have to waive all rights so that MongoDB can license the code subsequently under whatever license they see fit. That includes ...
- 11.5k
12
votes
Accepted
What are the attribution requirements of the AGPL license?
This is a detailed analysis, but note that I am not a lawyer, cannot give you reliable advice, and am only looking at the terms of the AGPL, not at relevant law in your jurisdiction.
Companies that ...
- 39.3k
12
votes
Accepted
If I use a public API endpoint that has its source code licensed under AGPL in my app, do I need to disclose my source?
Making calls to a public API
If there's a public API server that has it's source code licensed with AGPL, and if I make an app that uses these public endpoints in some part of it, ... is this ...
- 2,814
12
votes
How to prevent using source code as data source for machine learning activities?
Let me clarify, again, the old misunderstanding, by pointing out that licences don't inhere in code, their obligations attach to recipients through the act of conveyance.
If you are the sole ...
- 51.1k
11
votes
Accepted
Must I share made modifications of a software which has a AGPL-3.0 license and is founded on github?
The first site you link to is a pretty good summary.
Without wishing to criticise the quality of their software, the second site you link to is an incoherent ramble. It says
In particular, if I ...
- 51.1k
11
votes
Mattermost License
We already have a question here about distributing the compiled binary form of a piece of proprietary software under an MIT licence. As we said there, it's basically formalised freeware: the binary ...
- 51.1k
11
votes
Accepted
Can we change licence from AGPL v3.0 to BSL v1.1?
You can relicense your code away from the AGPL if you are the sole copyright holder. More precisely:
All copyrighted material that is supposed to be part of the new version must have a license that ...
- 39.3k
10
votes
Do I need to provide build/install instructions for LGPL-2.1 or AGPL-3.0 licensed libraries?
However I think only AGPL-3.0 requires build/install instructions according to the following links.[...] [and not the LGPL-2.1]
Am I right?
Nope.
These links are not the license proper. Just ...
- 14.7k
10
votes
Accepted
AGPL library usage for an internal software
It depends.
It depends on the architecture of your software. If the AGPL-licensed package is just used in an back-end application on a server, and not exposed to 3rd party interaction (through a proxy ...
- 7,399
10
votes
Accepted
Using AGPL package for a SaaS?
AGPLv3 section 13 only triggers when both:
you use a modified version of the AGPL-covered software; and
users are interacting remotely with that software over a network.
Corresponding excerpt from ...
- 39.3k
10
votes
Accepted
While working at my last company, I wrote some code under the AGPL license. Am I allowed to reuse the code I wrote into my personal project?
You have two very different questions here:
Are you allowed to reuse the code in your personal project? Yes, if and only if the code was released to the public - but you must then obey the AGPL as ...
- 20.7k
9
votes
Accepted
How Does The AGPL Apply To Javascript Libraries?
Most of your questions already have answers so I will just link to them:
Is there any difference between the GPL and AGPL for code executed in the browser? For code in the browser, there is no ...
- 5,687
9
votes
Accepted
gpl-3 vs agpl for a telegram bot
If that's what you want, then yes, the AGPL would be better. The GPL makes no restrictions on those who don't distribute the software but only make it available to interact with over a network.
- 7,973
9
votes
May I use AGPL license in a desktop application without providing the source code?
The GPL license family consists of three kinds of licenses:
The GPL is the most widespread variant. If you include GPL software into your software, you can only distribute the result under the terms ...
- 39.3k
9
votes
Accepted
How to protect a project from license infringement, without a CLA?
Everything you want is already possible without a CLA or copyright assignment.
inbound=outbound is automatic for GPL-family licenses because it is not allowed to distribute modifications without ...
- 36.4k
9
votes
Accepted
How should a project be structured to be able to use an AGPL license, but allow non-free extensions to it?
I wouldn't do this by messing about with aggregation vs. combination, or GPL bits vs. AGPL bits, or any other "it doesn't really cover the card decks" hack. Instead, I'd put the whole thing ...
- 51.1k
9
votes
What's the meaning (qualifications) of "machine" in GPL's "machine-readable source code"?
This answer is not based on the actual license text of the GPL, but on my interpretation of the intent of the GPL and how that could/should work out in practice. In that way, it is a subjective answer....
- 32.2k
9
votes
Distribute the code as closed source and the end users download GPLv3 dependencies separately
You're rightfully confused, it should be simple (but the world is complicated): a GPL-licensed library can only be used in a programme which does give its users the same rights as the GPL provides.
...
- 11.5k
9
votes
Accepted
Understanding the commercial applications of AGPL3
Do I open-source the code under AGPL3, but for people who want to use my software AND don't want to disclose their source code, they can get a business license?
Yes. With slight variations, this is ...
- 20.7k
8
votes
Can I use the middleman loophole to reduce AGPL to LGPL?
According to Philippe Ombredanne, one can use an unmodified AGPL library in a closed source web application. I quote:
I cannot fathom how you could consider that "Software that is based on/is ...
- 4,596
8
votes
Accepted
AGPL v3 licensing: How does external party determine if modifications were made?
Section 13 of the AGPLv3 says
...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 ...
- 36.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible