The GPL is extremely permissive WRT users. It allows people to obtain, modify and distribute the code, provided that they keep it GPLed and provide the source w

The GPL is extremely permissive WRT users. It allows people to obtain, modify and distribute the code, provided that they keep it GPLed and provide the source with binaries. Contrast this with proprietary software. There are restrictions for developers, namely that you can't link GPLed code to non-GPLed or GPLable code, and that you can't close the source. Liberal licenses are easier on developers, but they don't guarantee that the source will remain open. Software is ubiquitous nowadays, and most appliances use closed source software of unknown quality and probity. There's spyware in every cell phone, for example. More GPL makes a better world, overall.