The Anthropic Claude Code takedown of a reverse-engineered developer project has ignited a firestorm in the tech community, putting Anthropic at odds with developers while OpenAI’s Codex CLI enjoys a growing wave of goodwill.
Both Claude Code and Codex CLI were launched recently as rival “agentic” coding tools, designed to let developers harness AI models running in the cloud to streamline coding tasks. However, while OpenAI has embraced an open-source approach with Codex CLI under the Apache 2.0 license, Anthropic has taken a stricter stance with Claude Code, tying it to a restrictive commercial license.
That difference came to a head when a developer managed to de-obfuscate the hidden Claude Code source and uploaded it to GitHub. Anthropic quickly responded by issuing a DMCA takedown notice, demanding the content’s removal — a move that developers on social media slammed as heavy-handed.
In stark contrast, OpenAI has been actively welcoming community contributions to Codex CLI. In the first week after its release, OpenAI merged dozens of developer suggestions into its codebase, even adding support for AI models from competing companies, including Anthropic itself.
A Tale of Two Strategies
The Anthropic Claude Code takedown highlights two dramatically different philosophies between the competing AI giants. While OpenAI, previously criticized for its move toward proprietary software, appears to be shifting back toward a more open ecosystem, Anthropic seems to be doubling down on control.
Claude Code remains obfuscated and locked behind a commercial license, while Codex CLI’s open-source Apache 2.0 license encourages distribution and commercial modification.
Anthropic’s silence on the controversy hasn’t helped its case. Although Claude Code is still officially in beta — and buggy — the company’s defensive posture could alienate the very developer community it needs to succeed.
To be fair, security concerns often drive companies to keep their code protected during early beta stages. There’s still a chance Anthropic could later adopt a more permissive licensing model. But for now, OpenAI appears to have scored a surprising public relations win at Anthropic’s expense.
OpenAI’s Strategic Pivot
The situation is even more striking given OpenAI’s recent track record. Over the past year, the company moved away from open-source practices, favoring tightly controlled, proprietary products. However, CEO Sam Altman recently admitted that OpenAI may have been on the “wrong side of history” regarding open source—a sentiment now reflected in how Codex CLI is being managed.
By leaning into community collaboration with Codex CLI, OpenAI could be setting the tone for a new, more open era in AI development—one that Anthropic risks being left out of if it doesn’t adapt.
The Anthropic Claude Code takedown has sparked a backlash that could hurt Anthropic’s standing with developers, while OpenAI’s more open approach with Codex CLI earns it unexpected praise.
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