Trump’s new social media platform found using Mastodon code (blog.joinmastodon.org)

Article summary

Trump's new social media platform, Truth Social, appears to be using Mastodon's source code without proper attribution or compliance with the AGPLv3 license. Mastodon's founder has requested that Truth Social make its source code publicly available. The platform has since added a page with a link to the Mastodon source code, which may bring them into compliance. The incident highlights the importance of open-source licensing and enforcement.

Main themes

• Open-source licensing
• License enforcement
• Copyright law
• Trademark law
• Selective enforcement
• AGPLv3 license
• Mastodon and Truth Social controversy

What commenters say

• The enforcement of the AGPLv3 license against Truth Social is not an example of selective enforcement, as copyright law does not require consistent enforcement to maintain rights.
• A history of enforcing the license against other organizations can help establish a precedent, but it is not a requirement for a successful case.
• The scale and prominence of the violator can impact the decision to pursue enforcement, with more prominent cases like Truth Social being more likely to be pursued.
• Trademark law requires active policing and enforcement to maintain rights, but this may not be the case for copyright law.
• The doctrine of laches may not apply to separate enforcement cases, and a delay in enforcement against one party does not necessarily prejudice a case against another party.
• The AGPLv3 license requires that any modifications to the code be made publicly available, and Truth Social's initial failure to do so was a violation of this requirement.
• The case highlights the tension between the ideals of open-source software and the desire to control and profit from intellectual property.
• The enforcement of open-source licenses is important for maintaining the integrity and community trust in open-source projects.