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?
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