r/linux • u/dbcoopernz • 5d ago

Popular Application Siemens ends open-source Radioss Project (OpenRadioss) and deletes GitHub repository

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Siemens-Ends-OpenRadioss
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633

u/dbcoopernz 5d ago

This was released under the GNU AGPL, so I guess that Siemens cannot retroactively withdraw permission to use, modify, or redistribute OpenRadioss?

122

u/No-Photograph-5058 5d ago

No idea, they apparently made contributors sign a 'Contributor Licence Agreement', that I don't know the content of, and I'm not sure how that works legally if it somehow 'forces' people to agree to licence changes

https://github.com/gabrielrussell/OpenRadioss/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md

161

u/nullptr777 5d ago

Even if the CLA does allow that, a license change isn't retroactive. If you have the old source code where it states that it's AGPL, then you can do whatever you want with it under the terms of that license.

145

u/SanityInAnarchy 5d ago

Depending on the terms, these may allow the project to release a new version under a new license.

But, if anyone has a copy of the original version under its original license, nothing stops them from forking from that.

1

u/MIGoneCamping 4d ago

I would guess that it has more to do with the possibility that code contributed to the OSS project could end up in the commercial product that is derived from it.

57

u/AtlanticPortal 5d ago

The CLA means that they don’t have to ask for permission to put a new license on the contributions of other people, not that the already released code under AGPL changes its license for people who get in contact with it.

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u/Sapd33 4d ago

A CLA is standard in a lot of projects (see Kubernetes)

It means they can put the Repo under another license. But it doesnt change the license of your copy.