Chardet 7.0 relicensing sparks AI rewrite debate

This is less a normal library update and more an early legal stress test for AI-generated code in open source.

• –The technical release is substantial: faster detection, higher accuracy, and drop-in compatibility for existing users.
• –The licensing shift is the real flashpoint, because prior contributor exposure and prompt-based rewriting muddy “clean room” claims.
• –If courts treat AI-assisted rewrites as derivative works, similar relicensing attempts could face rollback or litigation risk.
• –If they do not, maintainers across ecosystems may try the same playbook to escape restrictive legacy licenses.