GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL)

The GNU General Public License, often shortened to GNU GPL (or simply GPL), lists terms and conditions for copying, modifying and distributing free software. The GPL was created by Richard Stallman in order to protect GNU software from being made proprietary. It is a specific implementation of his "copyleft" concept. According to Stallman, copyleft is a derivative of copyright law that serves "the opposite of its usual purpose: instead of a means of privatizing software, it becomes a means of keeping software free." (The name was taken from the humorous slogan, "Copyleft -- all rights reversed.")

Download this free guide

Download: Data center terminology that will get you hired

When it comes to data center job interviews, rattling off common DevOps and automation terms won’t get you far – you must establish your knowledge of IT infrastructure scalability and resiliency, as well as culture and business to really impress. Download this COMPLIMENTARY Data Center Terminology guide to learn how to ace your next interview.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

The first term of the GPL states that programmers may freely copy and distribute verbatim copies of a software program's source code, under the condition that each copy displays a copyright notice, disclaimer of warranty, intact GPL notices, and a copy of the GPL. The second term of the GPL, which deals with modification and redistribution of software, requires the same conditions as the first, along with notification of any changes made to the software.

The GPL itself is under the copyright ownership of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), a tax-exempt charity organization founded by Stallman's GNU project in order to generate funding for free software development.