> most software companies have an outright ban on GPL software

That doesn't sound right: most software companies, for example, make extensive use of Linux.

The standard I'm used to is:

* Internal use of GPL software is fine.

* SAAS products with GPL software are fine.

* GPL software leaving company infra is fraught. Either just don't do it, or bring in legal if there's a strong business need.

This is different from, say, AGPL, where many companies do just ban it outright.

> Baby companies do just ban it outright

This might be the key point. There's legal ambiguity surrounding these licenses. Large companies with legal resources can draw their own line in the sand to protect themselves.

But small companies don't have the resources or the bandwidth to address the ambiguity. So a blanket ban (Zero AGPL and GPL for Internal or SAAS, Linux generally gets a pass) is rational.

Likewise, I see small dev shops without the resources to address anti-AI policy ambiguity are going to defer contributions until further notice.