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| author | Drew DeVault <sir@cmpwn.com> | 2023-05-17 12:46:41 +0200 |
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| committer | Drew DeVault <sir@cmpwn.com> | 2023-05-17 12:46:41 +0200 |
| commit | 8f4327b23ae914079310384a0870e904323586e9 (patch) | |
| tree | 9dff1ac69fd82632d16107b232109817412dc1ed /content/learn | |
| parent | 1710f6dabb6b3a123e7366412ca326ff5a1b4ece (diff) | |
| download | writefreesoftware.org-8f4327b23ae914079310384a0870e904323586e9.tar.xz | |
What is Copyleft: editorial improvements
Diffstat (limited to 'content/learn')
| -rw-r--r-- | content/learn/copyleft.md | 29 |
1 files changed, 16 insertions, 13 deletions
diff --git a/content/learn/copyleft.md b/content/learn/copyleft.md index b3a85ef..73ded5c 100644 --- a/content/learn/copyleft.md +++ b/content/learn/copyleft.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ weight: -8 encourage the proliferation of free software and protect free software from being incorporated into non-free works. This works by giving you not only the *right* to share your improvements, but the *obligation* to share your -improvements, under some conditions. It is very important to understand these +improvements under some conditions. It is very important to understand these obligations when re-using copyleft software in your own work. {{< tip >}} @@ -23,31 +23,32 @@ Open Source movement. Different free software licenses exist along a spectrum from **permissive** to **copyleft**, based on the degree to which they emphasize copyleft in their -license terms. A permissive license will tend to allow generous reuse with -relatively few and non-onerous obligations, such as simple attribution -requirements. In contrast, copyleft licenses impose the obligation to share your -changes and derived works under the same license terms. +license terms. Permissive licenses tend to allow generous reuse with relatively +few and non-onerous obligations, such as simple attribution requirements. In +contrast, copyleft licenses impose the obligation to share your changes and +derived works under the same license terms. <img src="/images/licensing-spectrum.svg" alt="various projects and licenses organized along a spectrum" /> <small> - Various software licenses and projects which use them, organized on the - copyleft spectrum. Based on graphic by David A Wheeler, CC-BY-SA 3.0. + Various software licenses and examples of projects which use them, organized + on the copyleft spectrum. Original graphic by David A Wheeler, CC-BY-SA 3.0. </small> ## Why choose a copyleft license? It is common for permissively-licensed free software to be incorporated into -non-free works. This work is often leveraged for profit, denying the four -freedoms to users who receive the non-free work, and making profitable use of -the software without giving anything back to the free software community. +non-free works. This is often done in the name of greater profits by denying the +four freedoms to users who receive the non-free work, making profitable use +of the software without giving anything back to the free software community. -Copyleft licenses answer some of these problems: +Copyleft licenses address some of these problems: 1. Copyleft promotes the proliferation of free software and the four freedoms by ensuring that work built on top of free software grows and benefits the free software ecosystem. -2. Copyleft ensures that those who improve free software share their changes - with the community, so that all users can benefit from their improvements. +2. Copyleft ensures that those who improve or re-use free software share their + changes with the community, so that all users can benefit from their + improvements. Copyleft software can be sold, like all other free software, but requiring that commercial improvements remain free ensures the four freedoms are upheld by all @@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ library itself. If the software uses the GPL or AGPL, you will be more constrained in your approach. Read the license terms carefully and consult a lawyer if you are unsure how to proceed. +For more details, consult our page on [re-using free software](/learn/participate/derived-works/). + {{< tip >}} The [Software Freedom Conservancy][sfc] is an organization which, among other activities, pursues legal remedies for copyleft enforcement. To learn more about |
