A strategy towards mutual interoperability between he eupl and the gpl family gplv3. This license, commonly known as the gpl, has two versions that are actively and. This is a comparison of free and opensource software licences. Because gpl v2 and v3 are incompatible, it is illegal to release linux under v3. This article explains why upgrading the license is important. Y contributes to the development of v2 with changes and new code based on v1. The gpl is also liked with the free software foundation fsf. The gnu gpl is the most widely used free software license and has a strong copyleft requirement. The most widespread such license is the gnu general public license, or gnu gpl for short. Backwards compatibility is complicated, and forward isnt much better. Gplv3 of june 29, 2007 contains the basic intent of gplv2 and is an open source license with a strict copyleft what types of licenses are there for open source software, and how do they differ. Difference between gplv2 and gplv3 difference between. When distributing derived works, the source code of the work must be made available under the same license.
How can i make sure each user who downloads the binaries also gets the source. Both the ordinary gnu gpl, version 3, and the gnu affero gpl have text allowing you to link together modules under these two licenses in one program. Why upgrade to gplv3 gnu project free software foundation. Does the gpl allow me to distribute a modified or beta version under a nondisclosure. Apache 2 software can therefore be included in gplv3 projects, because the gplv3 license accepts our software into gplv3 works. Is convey in gplv3 the same thing as what gplv2 means by distribute. The software freedom law center provides practical advice for developers about including permissively licensed source. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. A strategy towards mutual interoperability between he eupl and the gpl family. Most commonly gplv2 or any later version is stated by users of the license. Saass means that users use someone elses web server to do their own computing. Among the two gpl is the basis of open source software for programmers. There are multiple variants of the gnu gpl, each with different requirements.
The licenses were originally written by richard stallman, former head of the free software foundation fsf, for the gnu project, and grant the recipients of a computer program the rights of the free software. Ernest park recently wrote a comparison on between two software licenses, the european union public license v1. This can be further shortened to gpl, when it is understood that the gnu gpl is the one intended. The free software foundation considers the apache license, version 2. The fsf recommends at least compatible with gpl and preferably copyleft. The gnu affero gpl does not address the problem of service as a software substitute saass. As a result the question of adding gplv3 to the compatibility list became actual and the eupl v1. Gplv2 and gplv3 are versions of the gnu public licenses gpl, a wellknown license for free software. First of all, it is important to note that upgrading is a choice. Gpl s main purpose is to promote the free availability and use of software for any purpose and for any user. The difference between the gpl and the lgpl is that with the lgpl, the entire work doesnt have to have the same license.
Although his comparison is quite extensive, i cannot agree with his conclusions, most of which may be. Fundamentally however, no big difference between v. The new license version contains a series of clauses that address questions that were not or were only insufficiently covered in version 2 of the gpl. You can go from gplv3 to gplv2, so long as you remove all the gplv3andup code. Gplv3 faq update permission to change release consider this situation. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu project. Here is a video of linus torvalds where he explains his opinion on gplv3. Wel is het zo dat praktisch alle vrije software gratis te downloaden is en als men. However, the language of the license text was strongly amended and is much more comprehensive in response to technical and legal changes and international license exchange.
Comparison of free and opensource software licences wikipedia. These licenses are compatible with the gnu gpl version 2. Most gpl version 2 software is actually licensed as gpl version 2 or any. The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a series of widely used free software. Note that more licenses are compatible with gplv3 than gplv2.
Gary is correct there are no differences with respect to ownership. Gplv2 vs gplv3 gplv2 and gplv3 are versions of the gnu public licenses gpl, a wellknown license for free software. The aim of gplv3 is to replace the gplv2 1991 which needed. The gpl is also liked with the free software foundation fsf the gplv2 licence dates back to 1991 and when the fsf started thinking about a new revision in 2006 it was obvious that information technology had changed enormously. What is the difference between gpl and lgpl in terms of. Version 3 of the gnu general public license gnu gpl has been released, enabling free software packages to upgrade from gpl version 2. Please download the eupl licence in your preferred language. The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. In late 2005, the free software foundation fsf announced work on version 3 of the gpl gplv3. In contrast to lgpl, gpl requires that you provide the code for all changes made to the software. The main author of both licenses is richard stallman.