What is the meaning of General Public License?

The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. Prominent free software programs licensed under the GPL include the Linux kernel and the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC).

What is the difference between GPLV2 and GPLV3?

The GPLV2 is the predecessor of the GPLV3 which makes the GPLV3 the newest version. The GPLV2 was introduced in 1991 while the GPLV3 was launched in 2007. Since the GPLV2 is an older version of the GPLV3, there are differences between the licenses. The GPLV2 has a library exclusion that the GPLV3 doesn’t have.

What are the main features of a general public license?

GNU General Public License (GPL) The GPL is termed a “strong” license, because it is completely incompatible with proprietary software. The GPL compels a user to make the source code available when distributing any copies of the software, and all modifications to the original source must be licensed under the GPL.

What are the key terms of the GNU General Public License?

There are two main terms to the license. Both apply to giving the program away or selling it. A copy of the source code or written instructions about how to get a copy must be included with the software. If the software is able to be downloaded from the internet, the source code must also be available for downloading.

What is another name of public domain software?

What is another word for public-domain software?

What GPL license means?

GNU’s General Public License
GPL is the acronym for GNU’s General Public License, and it’s one of the most popular open source licenses. Richard Stallman created the GPL to protect the GNU software from being made proprietary. It is a specific implementation of his “copyleft” concept.

Is GPLv2 compatible with GPLv3?

Please note that GPLv2 is, by itself, not compatible with GPLv3. However, most software released under GPLv2 allows you to use the terms of later versions of the GPL as well. When this is the case, you can use the code under GPLv3 to make the desired combination.

Which GPL version do I have?

This license, commonly known as the GPL, has two versions that are actively and widely used in many open source communities: GNU General Public License, version 2 (SPDX short identifier: GPL-2.0) GNU General Public License, version 3 (SPDX short identifier: GPL-3.0)

What does GPL stand for?

General Public License
“GPL” stands for “General Public License”. The most widespread such license is the GNU General Public License, or GNU GPL for short.

Why is GPL bad?

Many consider the GPL a “business-unfriendly” license because of its so-called viral nature: All software derived from GPL-licensed code must in turn be licensed under the GPL. If the GPL doesn’t work for you, you can purchase the software under an alternative commercial license.

Is GPL legal?

GPL is enforceable as it’s essentially a copyright license. The copyright holders of the GPL software can choose to enforce the GPL on the distributed or derivative works of the software. For example, the FSF holds the copyrights on many pieces of the GNU system, such as the GNU Compiler Collection.

What are examples of public domain?

Examples of Public Domain Works

• U.S. Federal legislative enactments and other official documents.
• Titles of books or movies, short phrases and slogans, lettering or coloring.
• News, history, facts or ideas (note that a description of an idea in text or images, for example, may be protected by copyright)

Why was the GNU general public license created?

The GNU General Public License, often shortened to GNU GPL (or simply GPL), lists terms and conditions for copying, modifying and distributing free software. The GPL was created by Richard Stallman in order to protect GNU software from being made proprietary.

What is the purpose of the GPL license?

The GPL is an attempt to enforce an economic bargain between licensors and licensees. Licensors under the GPL open their source code and distribute their software freely to all who agree to do the same for their own derivative works.

Is the Linux program subject to the GPL?

General Public License, Explained. The Linux program is not modified; it is merely used for the purpose for which it was designed. The proprietary program does not “contain” nor is it “derived from” Linux. Linux does not infect the proprietary program, and the proprietary program does not become subject to the GPL.

What do you need to know about the AGPL license?

The AGPL V3 license is a strong copyleft license that enforces open source on all components derived from any previous work. It closes the server-side loophole, where the source code isn’t made available if the software isn’t released. AGPL defines a user as anyone who accesses the server-side application if it is public-facing.