As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve seen the open source movement grow to change the face of software. The GNU GPL license has played a huge role in that by guaranteeing user freedoms. Let me explain more about what the GPL is all about.
The GPL story starts in the 1980s with Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation. At the time, software companies were increasingly using restrictive licensing to limit what users could do. Stallman believed software should respect user freedoms – leading to his creation of the GPL in 1989.
Now in 2022, the GPL is more relevant than ever. Over 300,000 open source projects use the license, including big names like Linux, WordPress, Drupal, and Mozilla. In fact, WordPress alone powers over 40% of all websites with its open source software. The GPL helped drive this phenomenal growth.
As you use WordPress, you gain four freedoms that embody the spirit of open source:
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The freedom to use WordPress however you want – whether for commercial, personal or non-profit purposes. The GPL does not restrict usage.
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The freedom to study the source code, modify it, and customize WordPress to meet your needs. You aren‘t limited to a black box system.
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The freedom to distribute exact copies of WordPress to help others. Sharing is caring!
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The freedom to distribute your modified versions too. Your improvements can benefit the community.
The GPL uses "copyleft" (a play on copyright) to guarantee these freedoms. Any modified versions of GPL code must also carry the same GPL license. Rather than restrict users, copyleft flips things around to keep software free.
There have been three versions of the GPL, with the current being GPLv3 from 2007. Key changes included patent protection, compatibility with other licenses, and usability improvements. Controversially, GPLv3 made it harder to use GPLv2 code.
While the GPL keeps WordPress open, some argue it can cause issues around ownership and enforcement. For example, there have been disputes over violations when companies don‘t comply with the GPL. However, overall the WordPress community agrees the GPL benefits outweigh any drawbacks.
Let‘s bust some myths around the GPL:
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The GPL does not prohibit charging money for software or services. Many companies make money from WordPress.
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You can still use GPL projects commercially. The license guarantees code freedom, not price freedom.
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The GPL does not mean software must be open source forever. Developers can switch licenses, e.g. to a non-commercial one.
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Compatibility with other licenses depends on version. GPLv2 allows mixing with proprietary code but GPLv3 does not.
So in summary, the GPL has been instrumental in the growth of free and open source software. By guaranteeing user freedoms rather than restricting them, millions have benefited from projects like WordPress. The GPL helped build the WordPress ecosystem we know and love today.
I hope this overview has helped explain what the GPL license is all about and how it applies to WordPress. Let me know if you have any other questions!
