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by acd 2593 days ago
A bug in GPL is that it allows SAAS Software as a service built on Open source software which means Software as a service can leech on open source software without contributing back.

https://resources.whitesourcesoftware.com/blog-whitesource/t...

Using AGPL instead of GPL closes the Saas loop hole.

Also due to close to zero bank interest rates the general availability of venture capital is to some extent stopping new open source software. Instead of giving away your software for free as Open source software you start a venture capital funded Software as a service instead.

2 comments

> Using AGPL instead of GPL closes the Saas loop hole.

In spirit maybe, but not in practice because of its loopholes. That was the reason MongoDB changed their license.

True, but that is what has driven most business to ignore most GPL libraries and drive back to glory days of PD/Freeware/Shareware, just with the source code for basic funcionality as the modern demo version, instead of the old time limited one.