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by Macha 1043 days ago
I'm way more fine with AGPL (without CLA). That's perfectly within the spirit of open source, as it doesn't privilege one group of users over another.

BPL, EPL, SSPL are all "not open source", and AGPL+CLA is "we're setting up for a bait and switch with not open source versions".
2 comments
pydry 1043 days ago
I find it curious that Microsoft doesnt get more shit for demanding a CLA, especially given that embrace, extend, extinguish is in their DNA.
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JimDabell 1043 days ago
Even GNU projects ask people to sign a CLA.
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pxc 1043 days ago
Assigning copyright to something like the FSF or the Free Qt Foundation is not at all like assigning copyright to Hashicorp or Microsoft or Oracle.
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teddyh 1043 days ago
GNU projects assign the FSF as the copyright holder. The FSF is inherently trustworthy. (Since the FSF controls the GPL.)
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elderbarry 1042 days ago
One day someone untrustworthy will be in charge of the FSF, and ‘or later’ is suddenly going to be #awkward. Linus made the right call there, for sure.
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teddyh 1042 days ago
The FSF is not an autocratic kingdom with a despotic ruler on top. It is a 501(c)(3) foundation, with bylaws and regulations to cover this eventuality.

This was all hashed out years ago in numerous flame wars on Usenet, as I’m sure you know.

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bawolff 1043 days ago
> AGPL+CLA is "we're setting up for a bait and switch with not open source versions".

Which is fine imo as long as the moment they pull the bait/switch they stop calling it open source (and others can fork at that point)

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Macha 1043 days ago
I think I'd be fine _using_ an AGPL+CLA product, but not contributing.
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pydry 1043 days ago
Thats exactly the point.
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Macha 1043 days ago
I'm not sure if we're agreeing or not to be honest. I'm not sure if you're implying it's a bad thing that people won't contribute to AGPL+CLA (and thereby justifies these more restrictive licenses), or agreeing that people shouldn't contribute to AGPL+CLA (and thereby volunteer their time to the benefit of one specific vendor).
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bawolff 1042 days ago
Whether or not someone contributes to something and under what terms is a personal choice. I dont think there is anything wrong with not contributing for any reason at all. Or if you dont like the cla, forking it and not using a cla in your fork.

I view that as a very different question from whether its ethical to advertize something agpl+cla as being open source.

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