Bradley M. Kühn of the Software Freedom Conservancy explains AGPLv3§7¶4, a clause that empowers users to remove self-contradictory 'further restrictions' added by licensors to AGPL-licensed software. The post uses the current Onlyoffice/Nextcloud/IONOS dispute as a case study: Ascensio System SIA embedded a 'badgeware' logo-preservation requirement in Onlyoffice's AGPL license, disguised as a permissible §7(b) attribution term. Kühn argues this is actually an impermissible further restriction, meaning Nextcloud and IONOS's Euro-Office fork is legally entitled to strip it under §7¶4. The piece traces the history of this licensing problem from GPLv2 days through GPLv3 drafting, explains why badgeware logos are not 'reasonable legal notices,' and calls out Ascensio's aggressive response as community-unfriendly bullying.
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