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How is the GPL license different from other licenses?
The GPL License is written with a great deal more specificity and in substantially more detail than the licenses described in the previous chapter. This meticulousness is obvious in the license’s first provision, which defines the scope of the license and its critical terms. GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
How is the GPL irrevocable to the copyright holder?
The GPL is irrevocable in the sense that once a copyright holder grants rights for someone to copy, modify and redistribute the software under terms of the GPL, they cannot later revoke that grant.
Which is the current version of the GPL?
This page contains answers to commonly asked questions about the GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2. The FAQ for the current version of the GPL is here. To learn more about the Free Software Foundation’s other licenses, please see our licenses page.
What are the rights and freedoms of the GPL?
Under copyright law, the GPL has granted various rights and freedoms to the licensee to perform specific types of copying, modification, and redistribution. By default, all other types of copying, modification, and redistribution are prohibited.
Is it better to use the GNU GPL or the GPL?
Using the GNU GPL will require that all the released improved versions be free software. This means you can avoid the risk of having to compete with a proprietary modified version of your own work. However, in some special situations it can be better to use a more permissive license.
Can you sell a modified version of the GPL?
You are allowed to sell copies of the modified program commercially, but only under the terms of the GNU GPL. Thus, for instance, you must make the source code available to the users of the program as described in the GPL, and they must be allowed to redistribute and modify it as described in the GPL.
Why does GPL have to cover the whole thing?
So the GPL has to cover the whole thing. If the two programs remain well separated, like the compiler and the kernel, or like an editor and a shell, then you can treat them as two separate programs—but you have to do it properly. The issue is simply one of form: how you describe what you are doing. Why do we care about this?
Can a company run a modified version of the GPL?
A company is running a modified version of a program licensed under the GNU Affero GPL (AGPL) on a web site. Does the AGPL say they must release their modified sources?
Can a copyright holder enforce the GPL license?
As the copyright holder, it can enforce the copyleft requirements of the GNU General Public License (GPL) if copyright infringement occurs on that software. 4. Can you sell GPL software/code? Yes, the GPL license allows users to sell the original as well as the modified software.
When to use GPLv3 or GPL Version 2?
Over the years we’ve contributed code to projects under “GPL version 2 or any later version”, and the project itself has been distributed under the same terms. If a user decides to take the project’s code (incorporating my contributions) under GPLv3, does that mean I’ve automatically granted GPLv3’s explicit patent license to that user?