General Public License
General Public License Key Points
- The General Public License (GPL) is a free software license that guarantees end users the freedom to run, study, share and modify the software.
- GPL is widely used, and its terms and conditions are enforced by the GNU project.
- It is instrumental in the open source and blockchain community as it promotes transparency, cooperation, and innovation.
- There are different versions of GPL, each with its own terms and conditions.
General Public License Definition
The General Public License (GPL) is a widely used free software license that allows software to be freely used, modified, and shared. It was created by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to protect software from being appropriated and closed off by corporations or individuals. It is a cornerstone of the open-source movement, promoting collaboration and transparency in software development.
What is the General Public License?
The General Public License is a license that ensures software remains free and open. It allows anyone to use, copy, and modify the software, and to distribute the software or any modifications. However, it also requires that any distributed versions of the software, including modifications, are also licensed under the GPL.
This means that if someone modifies GPL-licensed software and distributes it, they must also make their modified source code freely available. This prevents anyone from taking a GPL-licensed software, making their own modifications, and then distributing it as a proprietary product.
Who uses the General Public License?
The GPL is used by software developers who want to ensure that their software remains free and open. This includes individual developers, non-profit organizations, and even corporations. Notably, the GPL is used for many blockchain and cryptocurrency projects, which value transparency and decentralization.
One of the most famous examples of GPL-licensed software is the Linux kernel, which forms the basis of the Linux operating system. Other examples include the WordPress content management system and the MySQL database system.
When was the General Public License created?
The first version of the GPL was created by Richard Stallman of the Free Software Foundation in 1989. It was part of Stallman’s broader GNU Project, which aimed to create a completely free and open operating system.
The GPL has since gone through two major revisions, with the latest version, GPLv3, being released in 2007. Each version has clarified and expanded on the rights and responsibilities of software users and developers.
Where is the General Public License used?
The GPL is used worldwide, across a wide range of industries and applications. It is particularly popular in the tech industry, for both small and large-scale projects.
Given the global and decentralized nature of the internet, the GPL is applicable and enforceable anywhere in the world where copyright laws exist.
Why is the General Public License important?
The GPL is important because it helps ensure that software remains free and open. This promotes collaboration, as anyone can contribute improvements to GPL-licensed software. It also ensures transparency, as anyone can inspect the source code to see exactly what the software does.
In the context of blockchain and cryptocurrency, the GPL is particularly significant as it aligns with the principles of decentralization and openness that underpin these technologies.
How does the General Public License work?
The GPL works by imposing certain conditions on the use and distribution of software. The key condition is that if you distribute GPL-licensed software, whether in its original form or with modifications, you must also distribute the source code under the GPL. This ensures that any improvements or modifications are shared with the community.
Furthermore, the GPL establishes a copyleft provision, which means that derived works can only be distributed under the same license terms. This prevents a developer from using GPL-licensed software to create a derivative work and then distributing that work under a more restrictive license.