3 ms·
GPL restricts the pool of potential collaborators. Also, GPL has served its purpose: these days 1) almost everyone realizes that it is in everyone's interest t
by jwr 15y ago
GPL restricts the pool of potential collaborators.
Also, GPL has served its purpose: these days 1) almost everyone realizes that it is in everyone's interest to share code and contribute back (maintaining private forks is expensive in the long term), and 2) most software is offered as a service and the value is not just in the software, but also in the infrastructure, maintenance, support, etc, meaning you rarely encounter the problem of restricted liberties because of a software license.
Note that you do not need a copyleft license to support sharing.
- sciurus 15y agoIn web development, perhaps. In embedded systems (including the huge world of consumer electronics like cellphones) I suspect that if the linux kernel wasn't copyleft there would be few corporate contributions to its public codebase.
- njharman 15y agoIt enforces the pool of potential collaborators. I value my work, it is not free. Either pay for it or agree to contribute your improvements.