Florian Weimer wrote:
It seems that web.py does not include the source transmission facility
mentioned in the AGPL. As a result, the additional clause is void,
and the license should be DFSG-free.
Unfortunately the clause is not void.
(1) This is a copyleft, so all derivative works must use the same license;
(2) unlike clause 2c which applies if the *modified* program satisfies certain
conditions, clause 2d applies if the "Program as you received it" satisfies
certain conditions
So if I create a derivative work of web.py ("webplus.py") which *does* include
the facility mentioned in the AGPL, no subsequent derivative works of
"webplus.py" can ever remove it. This regardless of *my* desires as the
author of the source transmisison facility!
This is pretty hideous. I don't know if it's non-free, but I'd guess so.
Is there a way around it? Dual-licensing my portions of "webplus.py" under a
free license, and then distributing only in patch form (so that the
recipients never receive "webplus.py" as a single work)? No, that wouldn't
allow binary distribution.