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I was under the impression that the GPL forced you to release any modifications under GPL as well. If this is true, doesn't this mean you _don't_ own it?
by ceol 15y ago
I was under the impression that the GPL forced you to release any modifications under GPL as well. If this is true, doesn't this mean you _don't_ own it?
- slowpoke 15y agoThe GPL is really a very special case. I can understand most and share some of the criticism of it, but the fact is that it tries to keep things fair for everyone by preserving all essential freedoms. It does this by restricting one freedom: your freedom to restrict the freedom of others. I personally would prefer permissive licenses (or really, no licenses at all, but we're not going to arrive at this point any time soon), and actually use them for some stuff. It's just that the GPL is necessary to force change right now.
- ceol 15y agoFair enough. I just don't think you really _own_ software in the sense that you can release it under a different license or call it your own work. Kind of like how you own the CD you buy from your local record store, but that doesn't mean you own the rights to the songs on it.