Not to nitpick but : >>> This is a serious problems for companies selling software No. It is a serious problem for companies trying to make proprietary softwa

Not to nitpick but : >>> This is a serious problems for companies selling software No. It is a serious problem for companies trying to make proprietary software. That's quite different. The monetary aspect of the question is independent of that. That is, you can perfectly sell GPL programs. What you can't do is prevent competitors and users of reusing it the way they want to. GPL is a stance against proprietary software, not commercial software. (now, I'll readily admit that this seriously undermines many commercial prospects, but that's just a consequence)