cross-posted from: https://lemmybefree.net/post/1201042

Let’s say I use some AGPL software like Mastodon or Gitea. If I write a script to interact with some elements, like a nodejs script that interacts with the messages posted to act as an antispam, is it considered derivative work?

If I use a custom theme, does it have to be AGPL? If I add an overlay over the interface or interact with Mastodon through JS, does it have to be AGPL?

For Gitea, if I make a script to scrap some visual elements and send it by email to some people, does it have to be AGPL?

For an email software like Mailcow, if I write an antispam script that communicates with Mailcow’s API, does it have to be AGPL?

  • footfaults@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    1·
    3 hours ago

    No. You are using the APIs or scraping content.

    The AGPL is meant to deal with making modifications to a GPL piece of software on a server and not releasing the source code (and changes).

    For code to be GPL it needs to actually “link” in the sense of a compiler and linker, in order for it to be considered a derivative work.

    Calling the REST API of AGPL software, I do not believe that meets the definition of linking.

    I am not a lawyer but this is how I understand it