[cyphar]

> If everything in computer software is copylefted, the status quo in the rest of the non-software economy persists.

If every free software project was copylefted, it would be effectively impossible for any company that is smaller than Apple to maintain everything they need to make software proprietary. Want font rendering? Reimplement libharfbuzz. Want to write any C program? Reimplement glibc. And so on.

> Further, examples of AGPL 'free software' for the web backed by the dominant cloud service provider essentially give them an unlimited monopoly on that particular service, since, as copyright holder, they will be the only party able to create a proprietary fork which is better than the competition..

Only if they have a CLA or don't accept any contributions. I can't think of any examples of such AGPL projects, but even with the GPL such projects are quite rare (and CLAs like the FSF actually don't allow them to create proprietary forks). You're just spreading FUD, please stop.

[arca_vorago]

>it would be effectively impossible for any company that is smaller than Apple to maintain everything they need to make software proprietary.

Why does it need to be proprietary in the first place though. I feel like the arguments I am hearing are making assumptions about the desired outcome to support their reasoning.

[cyphar]

Sorry, I don't think my tone was clear. It's a good thing that it would make proprietary software effectively impossible to maintain (I'm a huge proponent of both copyleft and free software). I completely agree with your GP comment. ;)