Comment by fweimer
2 days ago
Even more confusing is that the AGPL explicitly deals with this scenario:
“ If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term. ”
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html
I think the expectation here is that commercial users purchase the AGPL opt-out.
The (A)GPL explicitly allows certain restrictions under section 7 (Additional Terms).
Back in the day FlowPlayer (a JavaScript component to play videos on the web) used additional terms per GPL section 7 to force users of their unpaid version to keep their mark intact in the UI or for modifications keep a "based on FlowPlayer" in.
I followed the discussion on this back then and the consensus seemed to be, that this is in line with what section 7 of the GPL allows. I think there was even a statement of the FSF, but I could not find it anymore.
Of course the iText case is different, but I believe section 7 (especially 7b) allows a way to add terms for attribution.
I don’t think the outputted files count as part of the program, which makes that requirement even more absurd.
Imagine if Bic said you had to write their name on every page you used one of their pens on.
The output can contain code that itself is under GPL. Basically the bison case.