basefoundry · codeforester · Aug 16, 2026 · Aug 16, 2026
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ and Base versions are tracked in the repo-root `VERSION` file.
   `basectl gh worktree prune`, with explicit PR-state classification and
   retention details for open, closed-unmerged, and no-PR branches.
 
+### Changed
+
+- Relicensed Base prospectively under Apache-2.0 starting with v1.9.0 to reduce
+  adoption friction for companies with copyleft-averse license review. Existing
+  MIT and AGPL releases retain their original licenses.
+- Made `basectl repo init` generate Apache-2.0 licenses by default for new
+  repositories.
+
 ### Fixed
 
 - Batched branch and worktree GitHub PR-state verification through one

@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ opinionated, testable, and useful as a local operating contract for deterministi
 readiness and handoff across independent Git repositories. The durable product
 loop is inventory -> prepare -> verify -> trust -> onboard -> hand off.
 
+## License
+
+Base is distributed under Apache-2.0 starting with v1.9.0. Earlier releases
+retain the license stated in their release documentation. Unless a separate
+written agreement says otherwise, contributions submitted for inclusion in Base
+are accepted under the Apache-2.0 terms.
+
 ## AI-Assisted Development
 
 Coding agents should follow [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md). It points to the same

@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ basectl repo init example --repo basefoundry/example
 ```
 
 This creates the local repository baseline: README, version, changelog,
-contributing guide, AGPL-3.0-or-later license, `.gitignore`, `base_manifest.yaml`, a
+contributing guide, Apache-2.0 license, `.gitignore`, `base_manifest.yaml`, a
 `tests/validate.sh` contract, and a GitHub Actions workflow that runs it.
 By default, `repo init` creates the repository under `workspace.root` from
 `~/.base.d/config.yaml`; if that is not configured, it falls back to the parent
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ the current branch. Existing remotes are never implicitly pushed. Use
 changes on a canonical issue-backed branch, push that branch to `origin`, and
 open a pull request. Use `--no-configure` to skip the GitHub step, or rerun it
 later with `basectl repo configure`. The generated license defaults to
-`AGPL-3.0-or-later`; pass `--license Apache-2.0` for standalone package repos.
+`Apache-2.0`, matching Base.
 Real PR runs derive and verify the issue category;
 offline `--pr --dry-run` previews also require `--category <name>`. Add
 `--agent-ready` when a new baseline should also include `AGENTS.md` and
@@ -1997,7 +1997,8 @@ memory.
 
 ## License
 
-Base is licensed under AGPL-3.0-or-later starting with v1.0.1.
+Base is licensed under Apache-2.0 starting with v1.9.0.
 
-Versions through v1.0.0 remain available under the MIT License as originally
+Versions v1.0.1 through v1.8.0 remain available under AGPL-3.0-or-later, and
+versions through v1.0.0 remain available under the MIT License as originally
 published. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for the current license terms.
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ Options:
   --release                     Seed the generic release contract and process documentation.
   --language <csv>              Add project language metadata; may be repeated.
   --description <text>          Repository description for generated README.
-  --license <SPDX>              License for the generated repository (AGPL-3.0-or-later or Apache-2.0).
-  --copyright-holder <name>     Copyright holder for generated AGPL license. Defaults to git config user.name.
+  --license <SPDX>              License for the generated repository (Apache-2.0).
   --private                     Create a private GitHub repository when needed. This is the default.
   --public                      Create a public GitHub repository when needed.
   --no-configure                Skip GitHub configuration during repo init.
@@ -305,20 +304,6 @@ base_repo_default_description() {
     printf 'Base-managed project %s.\n' "$name"
 }
 
-base_repo_default_copyright_holder() {
-    local holder=""
-
-    holder="$(git config --global user.name 2>/dev/null || true)"
-    if [[ -z "$holder" ]]; then
-        holder="$(id -un 2>/dev/null || true)"
-    fi
-    if [[ -z "$holder" ]]; then
-        holder="Unknown"
-    fi
-
-    printf '%s\n' "$holder"
-}
-
 base_repo_validate_name() {
     local name="$1"
 
@@ -565,13 +550,6 @@ base_repo_clone_url() {
     esac
 }
 
-base_repo_baseline_year() {
-    local year
-
-    printf -v year '%(%Y)T' -1 || return 1
-    printf '%s\n' "$year"
-}
-
 base_repo_create_directory() {
     local target_dir="$1"
 
@@ -790,19 +768,9 @@ Closes #
 EOF
 }
 
-base_repo_agpl_license_text() {
-    local source_license="$1"
-
-    awk '
-        /^[[:space:]]*GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE$/ { found = 1 }
-        found { print }
-        END { if (!found) exit 1 }
-    ' "$source_license"
-}
-
 base_repo_license_is_supported() {
     case "$1" in
-        AGPL-3.0-or-later|Apache-2.0)
+        Apache-2.0)
             return 0
             ;;
         *)
@@ -812,64 +780,24 @@ base_repo_license_is_supported() {
 }
 
 base_repo_license_display() {
-    printf 'AGPL-3.0-or-later or Apache-2.0\n'
+    printf 'Apache-2.0\n'
 }
 
 base_repo_write_license() {
-    local canonical_license
-    local copyright_holder="$2"
     local dry_run="$1"
-    local license_id="$3"
-    local root="$4"
-    local source_license="${BASE_HOME:-}/LICENSE"
+    local license_id="$2"
+    local root="$3"
     local license_template="${BASE_HOME:-}/templates/licenses/Apache-2.0"
-    local year
-
-    case "$license_id" in
-        AGPL-3.0-or-later)
-            [[ -f "$source_license" ]] || {
-                base_std_log_error "Base AGPL license text '$source_license' was not found."
-                return 1
-            }
-
-            canonical_license="$(base_repo_agpl_license_text "$source_license")" || {
-                base_std_log_error "Base AGPL license text '$source_license' did not contain the canonical AGPL terms."
-                return 1
-            }
-
-            year="$(base_repo_baseline_year)"
-            {
-                cat <<EOF
-Copyright (C) $year $copyright_holder
 
-This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
-the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free
-Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any
-later version.
-
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
-WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
-PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
-
-You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License along
-with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-EOF
-                printf '\n'
-                printf '%s\n' "$canonical_license"
-            } | base_repo_write_stream "$dry_run" "$root/LICENSE"
-            ;;
-        Apache-2.0)
-            [[ -f "$license_template" ]] || {
-                base_std_log_error "Apache-2.0 license template '$license_template' was not found."
-                return 1
-            }
-            base_repo_write_stream "$dry_run" "$root/LICENSE" < "$license_template"
-            ;;
-        *)
-            base_std_log_error "Unsupported repository license '$license_id'. Expected: $(base_repo_license_display)"
-            return 1
-            ;;
-    esac
+    [[ "$license_id" == "Apache-2.0" ]] || {
+        base_std_log_error "Unsupported repository license '$license_id'. Expected: $(base_repo_license_display)"
+        return 1
+    }
+    [[ -f "$license_template" ]] || {
+        base_std_log_error "Apache-2.0 license template '$license_template' was not found."
+        return 1
+    }
+    base_repo_write_stream "$dry_run" "$root/LICENSE" < "$license_template"
 }
 
 base_repo_write_gitignore() {
@@ -1204,13 +1132,12 @@ base_repo_write_project_support_files() {
 }
 
 base_repo_write_baseline() {
-    local copyright_holder="$4"
     local description="$3"
     local dry_run="$1"
-    local license_id="$6"
+    local license_id="$5"
     local name="$2"
-    local root="$5"
-    local languages=("${@:7}")
+    local root="$4"
+    local languages=("${@:6}")
     local status=0
 
     if [[ "$dry_run" != "1" ]]; then
@@ -1223,7 +1150,7 @@ base_repo_write_baseline() {
     base_repo_write_contributing "$dry_run" "$name" "$root" || status=1
     base_repo_write_pull_request_template "$dry_run" "$root" || status=1
     base_repo_write_project_config "$dry_run" "$root" || status=1
-    base_repo_write_license "$dry_run" "$copyright_holder" "$license_id" "$root" || status=1
+    base_repo_write_license "$dry_run" "$license_id" "$root" || status=1
     base_repo_write_gitignore "$dry_run" "$root" || status=1
     base_repo_write_manifest "$dry_run" "$name" "$root" "${languages[@]}" || status=1
     base_repo_write_validate_script "$dry_run" "$root" || status=1
@@ -2120,7 +2047,6 @@ base_repo_init() {
     local agent_ready=0
     local configure=1
     local baseline_change_status=0
-    local copyright_holder=""
     local category=""
     local create_pr=0
     local default_branch=""
@@ -2130,7 +2056,7 @@ base_repo_init() {
     local github_visibility="private"
     local github_visibility_explicit=0
     local issue=""
-    local license_id="AGPL-3.0-or-later"
+    local license_id="Apache-2.0"
     local name=""
     local path=""
     local project_owner=""
@@ -2310,14 +2236,6 @@ base_repo_init() {
                 }
                 shift
                 ;;
-            --copyright-holder)
-                [[ -n "${2:-}" ]] || {
-                    base_repo_init_usage_error "Option '--copyright-holder' requires an argument."
-                    return $?
-                }
-                copyright_holder="$2"
-                shift 2
-                ;;
             --private|--public)
                 requested_visibility="${1#--}"
                 if ((github_visibility_explicit)) && [[ "$github_visibility" != "$requested_visibility" ]]; then
@@ -2435,7 +2353,6 @@ base_repo_init() {
     fi
     [[ -n "$path" ]] || path="$(base_repo_default_target_path "$name")"
     [[ -n "$description" ]] || description="$(base_repo_default_description "$name")"
-    [[ -n "$copyright_holder" ]] || copyright_holder="$(base_repo_default_copyright_holder)"
     root="$(base_repo_target_path "$path")"
     if [[ -n "$issue" ]] && ! base_github_issue_number_is_valid "$issue"; then
         base_repo_init_usage_error "Option '--issue' must be a positive integer."
@@ -2517,7 +2434,7 @@ base_repo_init() {
         return $?
     fi
 
-    base_repo_write_baseline "$dry_run" "$name" "$description" "$copyright_holder" "$root" "$license_id" "${language_options[@]}" || return 1
+    base_repo_write_baseline "$dry_run" "$name" "$description" "$root" "$license_id" "${language_options[@]}" || return 1
     if ((configure_release)); then
         base_repo_configure_release "$dry_run" "$github_repo" "$root" || return 1
     fi

@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ EOF
     [[ "$output" == *"trust_allow_options=--workspace --manifest-sha256"* ]]
     [[ "$output" == *"trust_revoke_options=--workspace"* ]]
     [[ "$output" == *"repo_commands=init clone check configure agent-guidance installer-template"* ]]
-    [[ "$output" == *"repo_init_options=--path --repo --issue --category --pr --agent-ready --release --language --description --license --copyright-holder --private --public --no-configure --no-protect-default-branch --project --project-owner --project-schema --initiative-option --copy-project-fields-from --no-project --dry-run"* ]]
+    [[ "$output" == *"repo_init_options=--path --repo --issue --category --pr --agent-ready --release --language --description --license --private --public --no-configure --no-protect-default-branch --project --project-owner --project-schema --initiative-option --copy-project-fields-from --no-project --dry-run"* ]]
     [[ "$output" == *"repo_clone_options=--owner --path --dry-run"* ]]
     [[ "$output" == *"repo_check_options=--agent-guidance --agent-ready --release"* ]]
     [[ "$output" == *"repo_configure_options=--repo --no-protect-default-branch --project --project-owner --project-schema --initiative-option --copy-project-fields-from --replace-project --no-project --release --dry-run"* ]]

@@ -367,7 +367,6 @@ load ./basectl_helpers.bash
     [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
     for flag in \
         "--description <text>" \
-        "--copyright-holder <name>" \
         "--project <title>" \
         "--project-owner <login>" \
         "--project-schema <schema>" \

@@ -1358,7 +1358,7 @@ EOF
 
     [ "$status" -eq 2 ]
     [[ "$output" == *"Unsupported repository license 'MIT'"* ]]
-    [[ "$output" == *"AGPL-3.0-or-later or Apache-2.0"* ]]
+    [[ "$output" == *"Apache-2.0"* ]]
     [ ! -e "$repo_dir" ]
 }
 
@@ -1445,7 +1445,8 @@ EOF
     if grep -Fq "Demo Impact" "$repo_dir/.github/pull_request_template.md"; then
         fail "pull request template should not include Demo Impact by default"
     fi
-    grep -Fq "GNU Affero General Public License" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
+    grep -Fq "Apache License" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
+    grep -Fq "Version 2.0, January 2004" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
     run grep -F "Base - a workspace control plane" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
     [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
 
@@ -1538,71 +1539,6 @@ EOF
     [[ "$output" == *"basectl repo init base-demo --path $repo_dir --repo <owner/base-demo>"* ]]
 }
 
-@test "basectl repo init defaults copyright holder to git user name" {
-    local repo_dir="$TEST_TMPDIR/git-owner"
-
-    cat > "$TEST_MOCKBIN/git" <<'EOF'
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-if [[ "${1:-}" == "config" && "${2:-}" == "--global" && "${3:-}" == "user.name" ]]; then
-    printf 'Ada Lovelace\n'
-    exit 0
-fi
-exit 1
-EOF
-    chmod +x "$TEST_MOCKBIN/git"
-
-    run env \
-        HOME="$TEST_HOME" \
-        PATH="$TEST_MOCKBIN:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin" \
-        "$BASE_REPO_ROOT/bin/basectl" repo init git-owner --path "$repo_dir" --no-configure
-
-    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
-    grep -Fq "Copyright (C) $(date +%Y) Ada Lovelace" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
-    grep -Fq "GNU Affero General Public License as published by" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
-}
-
-@test "basectl repo init falls back to system username for copyright holder" {
-    local repo_dir="$TEST_TMPDIR/system-owner"
-    local username
-
-    cat > "$TEST_MOCKBIN/git" <<'EOF'
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-exit 1
-EOF
-    chmod +x "$TEST_MOCKBIN/git"
-    username="$(id -un)"
-
-    run env \
-        HOME="$TEST_HOME" \
-        PATH="$TEST_MOCKBIN:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin" \
-        "$BASE_REPO_ROOT/bin/basectl" repo init system-owner --path "$repo_dir" --no-configure
-
-    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
-    grep -Fq "Copyright (C) $(date +%Y) $username" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
-    grep -Fq "GNU Affero General Public License as published by" "$repo_dir/LICENSE"
-}
-
-@test "base_repo_baseline_year uses bash time formatting without date command" {
-    cat > "$TEST_MOCKBIN/date" <<'EOF'
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-exit 1
-EOF
-    chmod +x "$TEST_MOCKBIN/date"
-
-    run env \
-        HOME="$TEST_HOME" \
-        BASE_HOME="$BASE_REPO_ROOT" \
-        PATH="$TEST_MOCKBIN:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin" \
-        "$BASH" -c '
-            source "$BASE_HOME/base_init.sh"
-            source "$BASE_HOME/cli/bash/commands/basectl/subcommands/repo.sh"
-            base_repo_baseline_year
-        '
-
-    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
-    [[ "$output" =~ ^[0-9]{4}$ ]]
-}
-
 @test "basectl repo init leaves existing files unchanged" {
     local repo_dir="$TEST_TMPDIR/custom"
 

@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ daily project loop commands from the local checkout.
 
 | Command | What it does | Important flags |
 |---|---|---|
-| `basectl repo init <name>` | Create a Base-managed repository baseline, including `.github/base-project.yml`, and optionally create/configure the GitHub repo. Use `--path .` for the current checkout. If `--repo` creates a new remote, init attaches `origin`, creates an initial commit, and pushes; existing remotes are never implicitly pushed. Use `--pr --issue <number>` for an explicit baseline PR. Real PR runs derive the issue category; offline `--pr --dry-run` also requires `--category <name>`. Use `--agent-ready` to seed `AGENTS.md` and `skills.md` with the baseline. Use repeatable `--language <csv>` values to seed normalized `project.languages` metadata; selecting `python` also writes `python.manager: uv`. | `--path <path>`, `--repo <owner/name>`, `--issue <number>`, `--category <name>`, `--language <csv>`, `--description <text>`, `--license <SPDX>`, `--copyright-holder <name>`, `--public`, `--private`, `--pr`, `--agent-ready`, `--project <title>`, `--project-owner <login>`, `--project-schema <schema>`, `--copy-project-fields-from <title>`, `--initiative-option <name>`, `--no-configure`, `--no-project`, `--no-protect-default-branch`, `--dry-run` |
+| `basectl repo init <name>` | Create a Base-managed repository baseline, including `.github/base-project.yml`, and optionally create/configure the GitHub repo. Use `--path .` for the current checkout. If `--repo` creates a new remote, init attaches `origin`, creates an initial commit, and pushes; existing remotes are never implicitly pushed. Use `--pr --issue <number>` for an explicit baseline PR. Real PR runs derive the issue category; offline `--pr --dry-run` also requires `--category <name>`. Use `--agent-ready` to seed `AGENTS.md` and `skills.md` with the baseline. Use repeatable `--language <csv>` values to seed normalized `project.languages` metadata; selecting `python` also writes `python.manager: uv`. | `--path <path>`, `--repo <owner/name>`, `--issue <number>`, `--category <name>`, `--language <csv>`, `--description <text>`, `--license <SPDX>`, `--public`, `--private`, `--pr`, `--agent-ready`, `--project <title>`, `--project-owner <login>`, `--project-schema <schema>`, `--copy-project-fields-from <title>`, `--initiative-option <name>`, `--no-configure`, `--no-project`, `--no-protect-default-branch`, `--dry-run` |
 | `basectl repo clone <name-or-owner/name>` | Clone one GitHub repository into the configured Base workspace, treating matching existing checkouts as already satisfied. | `--owner <owner>`, `--path <path>`, `--dry-run` |
 | `basectl repo check [path]` | Verify the local repository baseline. Stable inspection JSON uses the shared v1 envelope. | `--agent-guidance`, `--agent-ready`, `--release`, `--format <text\|json>` |
 | `basectl repo configure [path]` | Apply Base-managed GitHub repository settings, labels, default branch protection, non-default branch naming enforcement, the trusted issue/category branch policy workflow, and repo Project metadata. After a default-branch dispatch produces a recent trusted success, its GitHub-Actions-bound PR-head status becomes required. Reads `.github/base-project.yml` to seed options and fill missing issue defaults when present. | `--repo <owner/name>`, `--project <title>`, `--project-owner <login>`, `--project-schema <schema>`, `--copy-project-fields-from <title>`, `--initiative-option <name>`, `--replace-project`, `--no-project`, `--no-protect-default-branch`, `--dry-run` |