Re: Is AGPLv3 DFSG-free?
* Anthony W. Youngman <debian@thewolery.demon.co.uk> [080824 00:31]:
> You want the software to be BSD-Free.
No, I want things to be free. BSD free is free and also gives the right
to make it non-free. GPLv2 is free and ensures it stays free (copyleft).
AGPL is non-free and GPLv3 is free but forbids to make it copyleft
(as it forbids to remove to right to make it non-free by combining with
AGPL).
> The AGPL is GNU-Free. There's a difference.
No, it is "Microsoft-Free": you are allowed some things somebody
considers you are allowed but forbids other things.
> The whole point of the AGPL is keep software GNU-Free and close a
> loophole where the web allows public use of GPL software but allows a
> modifier to keep the modifications private.
It might be some point in it, but if it does so by starting to make it
non-free, then the try to protect the freedom is lost before started.
> From what you've said, it sounds like you don't think the GPL is free,
> because modifying GPL software means you can't run it without fulfilling
> certain restrictions (namely "you're not allowed to share just the
> binaries").
No, there is an very important difference. The GPL ensures that everyone
is allowed all the things they would be if there was no license at all.
And when people make modified variants, it stays this way.
What AGPL does, is trying to limit how a program is allowed to run. That
is an very important difference.
Hope that helps,
Bernhard R. Link
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