Assembler and machine code aren't the same thing. Your computer does not run assembly, it runs machine code. Assembly languages are still "compiled" into machin

Assembler and machine code aren't the same thing. Your computer does not run assembly, it runs machine code. Assembly languages are still "compiled" into machine code, except that this process is called "assembling" and is much simpler than compiling other languages due to the structure of assembly and machine language being so close. Whilst that similarity makes it easier to disassemble (i.e. decompile) back to working assembly, the structure of the code can be lost, especially if code is organised in a modular way (using macros, etc...). As modularity improves maintainability, there is a technical benefit to having code written in assembly protected under the GPL.