Version 3 of the GNU General Public License: Major Changes for Open Source Software Licensing

This article discusses the main changes to new version of the GNU General Public License, GPLv3. The new version is the result of extensive public comment and heated debate, and could have far-reaching effects on the use of open source software. GPLv3 is the successor to GPL version 2 (GPLv2), first published in 1991, used extensively today, and among the most popular open source licenses available.

28 minute read November 29, 2007 at 03:22 PM
By
William I. Schwartz, Paul E. Jahn and Aaron P. Rubin
Version 3 of the GNU General Public License: Major Changes for Open Source Software Licensing

The Free Software Foundation ('FSF') this summer published the final, official new version of the GNU General Public License, GPLv3. The new version is the result of extensive public comment and heated debate, and could have far-reaching effects on the use of open source software.

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