GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 3
Last updated: June 29, 2007
Author: Free Software Foundation (FSF)
License URL: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
Preamble
The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for software and other kinds of works. Its main purpose is to ensure that software remains free for all its users.
You are allowed to:
- Use the software for any purpose.
- Study how the program works and change it.
- Redistribute copies.
- Distribute modified versions (under the same license).
However, you must:
- Provide the source code when distributing.
- License your modifications under the same GPL v3 license.
- Not impose additional restrictions on the rights granted by the license.
Key Terms
1. Freedom to Use
You can use the software for any purpose, including commercial use, without paying royalties.
2. Freedom to Study and Modify
You can view and modify the source code of the software. If you distribute modified software, you must also provide the modified source code under GPL v3.
3. Freedom to Share
You can redistribute the software freely, whether in original or modified form, provided you follow the terms of the license.
4. No Warranty
The software is provided “as-is” without warranty of any kind. The authors are not liable for any damages arising from its use.
Conditions for Distributing
- You must include the original copyright notice.
- You must disclose your source code if you distribute the software.
- Any modified version must be licensed under GPL v3.
- You cannot impose further restrictions on the software.
Tivoization and Anti-DRM
The GPL v3 includes clauses that prohibit tivoization — using hardware restrictions to prevent users from running modified software. It also includes anti-DRM (Digital Rights Management) protections.
Patent Grant
The license includes an express patent license from contributors, ensuring that users are protected from patent lawsuits related to the software.
License Compatibility
You may combine GPL v3 code with code licensed under compatible licenses (like the Apache License 2.0), but the resulting work must still be distributed under GPL v3.
Full License Text
To view the full official license text, visit:
📄 https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
