2026-09-17 16:20 UTC
Replies (1)
-
@t3rmit3@beehaw.org 2026-09-17 16:31
Except GPL doesn’t say, “keep it free”, it says “keep it GPL”. Public domain is also free, but GPL’d code cannot be made that, except by the original “licenser”. And while I can’t speak for other countries, the USA’s copyright regime, which is what would be relied upon to actually enforce the GPL, is entirely built to serve business interests, which makes the GPL’s actual utility in enforcing “freeness” of software dubious at best. GPL doesn’t give the original owner any power over others it just requires the code which was born free to stay free. In the US at least, this is untrue; the only entity with legal standing to enforce (via lawsuit) the GPL on a piece of software is the creator(s). Obviously as GPL ‘flows’ through redistribution, that becomes more nuanced, but it’s always limited in standing of who “owns” the improperly-redistributed version. That is absolutely “power” that is unique to the ‘owner’ of the software.