Anthropic Issues Takedown Notice to Reverse Engineer

The Competitive Landscape of AI Coding Tools

Currently, a comparison is being drawn between two advanced coding tools – Claude Code, developed by Anthropic, and the Codex CLI from OpenAI. Initial indications suggest that OpenAI’s offering is currently receiving a more positive reception from the developer community.

Differing Approaches to Licensing and Access

This disparity in developer sentiment is largely attributed to Anthropic’s actions regarding attempts to reverse-engineer Claude Code. The company issued takedown notices to a developer who was working to understand its inner workings, a move influenced by the tool’s more restrictive licensing terms compared to Codex CLI.

Both Claude Code and Codex CLI serve a similar purpose: they empower developers to leverage the capabilities of cloud-based AI models for a variety of coding tasks. Both were launched within a short timeframe of each other, as each company sought to establish a strong presence among developers.

License Implications and Code Availability

A key difference lies in their licensing. The source code for Codex CLI is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license, which permits both distribution and commercial applications. Conversely, Claude Code is governed by Anthropic’s commercial license, which restricts modifications without the company’s express consent.

Furthermore, Anthropic deliberately “obfuscated” the source code for Claude Code, meaning it wasn't easily accessible. When a developer successfully de-obfuscated the code and shared it on GitHub, Anthropic responded with a DMCA complaint, requesting its removal due to copyright concerns.

Developer Reaction and OpenAI’s Responsiveness

This action sparked criticism from developers on social media, who contrasted it unfavorably with OpenAI’s approach to Codex CLI. Since its release, OpenAI has integrated numerous suggestions from developers directly into the tool’s codebase.

Notably, one such integration allows Codex CLI to utilize AI models from competing providers, including those developed by Anthropic.

Anthropic’s Position and Future Possibilities

Anthropic has not yet provided a public response to these developments. It’s important to note that Claude Code is still in its beta phase and experiencing some instability. It remains possible that Anthropic may eventually release the source code under a more permissive license.

Companies often employ code obfuscation for security reasons, and this is likely a factor in Anthropic’s decision.

A Shift in OpenAI’s Strategy?

This situation represents a surprising public relations victory for OpenAI, particularly given its recent trend towards proprietary and closed-source products. It could signal a change in the company’s overall strategy.

Earlier this year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed a belief that the company had previously been on the “wrong side of history” regarding open-source initiatives, suggesting a potential re-evaluation of this approach.