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Last modified by chrisby on 2025/01/11 10:03
From version 2.90
edited by chrisby
on 2025/01/08 13:12
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version 2.116
edited by chrisby
on 2025/01/08 13:41
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

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47 47  
48 48  **Copyleft Licenses**
49 49  
50 -To address the problems with proprietary software, the FSF primarily promotes copyleft licenses, which require that any derivative works of the software be licensed under the same terms as the original code. The term "derivative work" is legally somewhat vague, but here is a common understanding:
50 +To address problems with proprietary software, the FSF promotes copyleft licenses, such as the AGPL, which require that any derivative works remain under the same license. The term "derivative work" is somewhat vague in legal terms, but a common interpretation is that software that depends on AGPL code to function is a derivative work.
51 51  
52 -* When a software uses the source code directly in order to build, that means using a AGPL lilibrary
52 +For example, if a project directly incorporates AGPL source code or relies on an AGPL library, it must adopt the AGPL license for its entire code base. Similarly, if software calls an external AGPL service over a network, the software is usually not a derivative work if the service is purely optional. However, if the service is essential and the software won't work without it, even if the AGPL code is hosted externally, the software is still considered a derivative work. Attempting to "work around" the AGPL by outsourcing essential functions in a network service will not avoid the license requirements.
53 53  
54 -This ensures that when contributions are made to a copyleft project, or when copyleft code is directly reused in another project, the resulting work must be released under the same copyleft license. This prevents vendors from incorporating copyleft code into proprietary products, and ensures that any derivative works remain open source. In addition, copyleft licenses require that the source code be made available to users so that they can modify, build, and control the software themselves.
54 +In summary, this copyleft license ensures that whenever AGPL code is reused, or contributions are made to existing copyleft code, the resulting work must remain open source. The AGPL license also guarantees that the source code must be made available if a user requests it, so that users can modify, build, and control the software themselves.
55 55  
56 56  **License Preferences**
57 57