I thought you got this backwards, then I realized that it depends on how you classify "developer" and "user". I think of "user" as someone who downloads the li

I thought you got this backwards, then I realized that it depends on how you classify "developer" and "user". I think of "user" as someone who downloads the licensed software and uses it. And "developer" I associate with whoever wrote the licensed software that was downloaded. Based on this definition, GPL gives more right to the developer, and less rights to the user. The user can't create derivative works from it and distribute it without also releasing the source code. This is a restriction that affects the use of the code by someone who downloaded it. Any derivatives are contributed back, giving the developer the right to integrate it to the original.