Decentralized communication protocol Matrix, Element, have announced a license change. The core Matrix server, Synapse, its alternative server implementation, Dendrite, and various related server-side projects (such as the Sydent identity server) are all transitioning from the permissive Apache 2.0 license to the Affero General Public License (AGPL) v3. Element's client projects will not be affected by these changes. Element stated that the maintenance costs of Matrix (which reportedly contributed over 95% of all code) forced it to reconsider its strategy and create a "fair competitive environment." Meanwhile, decentralization and interoperability are becoming increasingly important priorities for governments, businesses, and consumers.