There are different versions of the GPL license, ranging from the lightweight copyleft LGPL to the strong copyleft AGPL.
But if the LGPL is a lighter copyleft version of the GPL, why isn’t there a lighter copyleft version of the AGPL?
There are different versions of the GPL license, ranging from the lightweight copyleft LGPL to the strong copyleft AGPL.
But if the LGPL is a lighter copyleft version of the GPL, why isn’t there a lighter copyleft version of the AGPL?
AGPL is specifically for web services. For example, if Nextcloud were provided under the GPL, Amazon or the like could serve a modified version of Nextcloud without having to hand out their modifications. As far as the GPL is concerned, Amazon is the user and the software just happens to accept requests from the network.
With AGPL, those who use the software over the network are also deemed users and therefore have the right to access the source code.