If a developer uses GPL Emacs to write a server that uses GPL libraries and Google runs that sever in their datacenter it is very clear that Google doesn't have to release any source code.
However Google's argument is that if they make a web application that uses AGPL MongoDB as a backend it is unclear if 1. The user is interacting with MongoDB over a network and 2. do they need to release the code of their server.
It appears that the answers are 1. Yes and 2. No but apparently Google isn't confident to use that in court. (Or at least they don't see enough benefits for that risk)
If a developer uses GPL Emacs to write a server that uses GPL libraries and Google runs that sever in their datacenter it is very clear that Google doesn't have to release any source code.
However Google's argument is that if they make a web application that uses AGPL MongoDB as a backend it is unclear if 1. The user is interacting with MongoDB over a network and 2. do they need to release the code of their server.
It appears that the answers are 1. Yes and 2. No but apparently Google isn't confident to use that in court. (Or at least they don't see enough benefits for that risk)