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Cal.com's decision to abandon its commitment to AGPL and switch to proprietary licenses has sparked controversy within the open-source community, raising questions about the effectiveness of security by obscurity and the future of software development in an era dominated by AI. While some argue that this move is necessary, others contend that it marks a retreat from the principles of openness and collaboration that have long characterized the open-source movement.
Cal.com has abandoned its commitment to the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) and switched to a proprietary license. The company cited concerns over security vulnerabilities and protecting intellectual property as reasons for the change. Some experts argue that traditional open-source licenses are no longer effective in preventing AI-powered attacks. Others claim that security by obscurity is no longer an effective strategy, and that proprietary software companies must bear the burden of securing their codebase alone. The shift to proprietary licenses raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the open-source model. Experts argue that open-source development and collaboration are crucial for ensuring the long-term security of software in a world where AI-powered attacks become increasingly sophisticated.
Cal.com's recent decision to abandon its long-held commitment to the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) and switch to a proprietary license has sent shockwaves throughout the open-source community. The company, which offers scheduling and appointment management tools, cited concerns over security vulnerabilities and the need to protect its intellectual property as the reason for the change.
According to Cal.com co-founder and CEO Bailey Pumfleet, AI-powered attacks are now too sophisticated and widespread for traditional open-source licenses to provide adequate protection. He claimed that by keeping its codebase proprietary, Cal.com can prevent would-be hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in its software. However, this stance has been met with skepticism by many experts, who argue that security by obscurity is no longer an effective strategy.
Simon Willison, co-creator of the Django web framework and a prominent voice in the open-source community, countered Pumfleet's views, stating that open-source libraries can share the costs of auditing and testing, while proprietary software companies must bear the burden alone. This disparity, Willison argued, makes it clear that open source is more valuable than previously thought.
The shift towards proprietary licenses has also raised questions about the long-term sustainability of the open-source model. As AI-powered attacks continue to evolve at an unprecedented rate, many developers are left wondering if the benefits of open-source collaboration and community-driven development still outweigh the risks.
One expert, Drew Breunig, noted that code security is now a matter of token economy, where the cost of securing a system becomes increasingly prohibitively expensive as AI-powered attacks become more sophisticated. According to Breunig, this has led to a renewed focus on the importance of open-source development and collaboration in ensuring the long-term security of software.
Meanwhile, Ryan Sipes, Mozilla Thunderbird product manager, seized upon Cal.com's decision as an opportunity to promote his own company's commitment to open-source development. He stated that Thunderbird Appointment would always remain open-source, and encouraged anyone interested in contributing to its development.
The debate surrounding Cal.com's switch to proprietary licenses has also sparked a broader conversation about the role of AI in software development. As AI-powered tools become increasingly sophisticated, many experts are left wondering how developers will balance the benefits of these technologies with the need for security and transparency.
In conclusion, Cal.com's decision to abandon its commitment to AGPL and switch to proprietary licenses has sent shockwaves throughout the open-source community. While some argue that this move is necessary in light of AI-powered threats, others contend that security by obscurity is no longer an effective strategy. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the future of software development will require a nuanced understanding of both the benefits and risks associated with AI-powered tools.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Calcom-Controversy-A-Rebuttal-to-Security-by-Obscurity-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/04/26/opinion_column/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/26/opinion_column/
https://thenewstack.io/is-ai-killing-open-source-software/
Published: Sun Apr 26 16:10:22 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
