Difference between revisions of "General Public License"
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| − | Usually the name ''General Public License'' ( | + | Usually the name '''General Public License''' ('''GPL''') refers to the [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html GNU General Public License], a [[free software]] license written by [[Richard Stallman]], founder of the [[Free Software Foundation]]. The current version of the license, GPLv3, released in June 2007, includes changes designed to combat the use of [[Digital Rights Management]], or DRM. There are many other [[free software|free]] or [[open source]] software licenses. All these licenses allow anyone to redistribute programs placed under them; the main peculiarity of the GPL is that it requires that, if you use GPL-licensed code in any [[Computer program|program]] you write, you license that [[derivative work|derivative]] program under the GPL. Some version of the GNU GPL is in use for a large percentage (estimated at 60%<ref>http://www.blackducksoftware.com/oss</ref>) of [[open source]] software. |
==Popular GPL-Licensed Software== | ==Popular GPL-Licensed Software== | ||
# MediaWiki (used to run [[Conservapedia]]) | # MediaWiki (used to run [[Conservapedia]]) | ||
| − | # Linux (the kernel and most basic tools) | + | # [[Linux]] (the kernel and most basic tools) |
| − | # OpenOffice | + | # [[Mozilla Firefox]], a popular web browser |
| − | # Pidgin | + | # [[OpenOffice]], a [[free software]] competitor to [[Microsoft Office]] |
| + | # Pidgin, a [[free software]] instant messaging program | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
[[Open Source]] | [[Open Source]] | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
[http://www.fsf.org/ The Free Software Foundation] | [http://www.fsf.org/ The Free Software Foundation] | ||
| + | [http://www.gnu.org/ The GNU project] | ||
| + | [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html Text of the GNU General Public License] | ||
[[Category:Software]] | [[Category:Software]] | ||
Revision as of 00:29, November 1, 2009
Usually the name General Public License (GPL) refers to the GNU General Public License, a free software license written by Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation. The current version of the license, GPLv3, released in June 2007, includes changes designed to combat the use of Digital Rights Management, or DRM. There are many other free or open source software licenses. All these licenses allow anyone to redistribute programs placed under them; the main peculiarity of the GPL is that it requires that, if you use GPL-licensed code in any program you write, you license that derivative program under the GPL. Some version of the GNU GPL is in use for a large percentage (estimated at 60%[1]) of open source software.
Popular GPL-Licensed Software
- MediaWiki (used to run Conservapedia)
- Linux (the kernel and most basic tools)
- Mozilla Firefox, a popular web browser
- OpenOffice, a free software competitor to Microsoft Office
- Pidgin, a free software instant messaging program
See also
External links
The Free Software Foundation The GNU project Text of the GNU General Public License