GNU General Public License: Definition and additional resources from ZDNet

A software license from the Free Software Foundation (FSF) that ensures every user receives the essential freedoms that define "free" software, which is free of restrictions (see free software). Also called "GPL" and "GNU GPL," it was created to distribute the software of the GNU operating system (see GNU). Approximately 70% of free software packages are released under this license, including most GNU programs and thousands of others. The GNU General Public License is also considered an open source license (see open source).

Copyleft, Not Copyright
The license embodies the Free Software Foundation's "copyleft" rule, which means that anyone is allowed to make changes or extend the source code and redistribute it as long as the changes are clearly marked, and the modified work is also licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Version 3 (GPLv3)
In 2007, Version 3 of the license was released to address several issues. It forbids Tivoization, which is the practice of designing hardware to prevent modified software from running on it (see Tivoization), and it is designed to yield results that are more uniform between countries despite variations in their copyright laws. GPLv3 also provides explicit protection to users and redistributors of a program against being sued for patent infringements by organizations connected with the program's development.

The GNU Lesser GPL (LGPL)
The GNU Lesser General Public License is meant for free software that allows linking with non-free software. It was originally called the "GNU Library GPL," but the name was changed to remove the implication that all libraries should be licensed this way. "Lesser" means the license does less to protect the user's freedom than the regular GNU GPL. See free software, open source, copyright, Free Software Foundation and GNU.

Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia.
Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc.
All rights reserved.

Additional Resources

Energy Independence Day...not yet, but it's a popular idea: Click on any image to see the whole picture. These are just three of the images from our local Fourth of July Parade today. We happen to live in a state which does not produce much...; Tags: Subsidy, Denmark, Natural Gas, Taxes, Free Trade, Telecom & Utilities, Financial Planning, Finance, Harry Fuller; Blog posts 2008-07-04
Storm Worm's Independence Day campaign: A Storm Worm's Independence Day campaign is circulating online using email as propagation vector, attempting to trick users into visiting a Storm Worm infected host, where a multitude of what looks like over five different exploits attempt to automatically infect the visitors next to the malware binary fireworks.exe. Historically, Storm...; Tags: Software, Malware, Worm, Exploit, Storm Worm, Day Vulnerability, Cyberthreats, Spyware, Adware & Malware, Viruses And Worms, Security, Dancho Danchev; Blog posts 2008-07-04
Apple caught neglecting iPhone security: Apple caught neglecting iPhone securityApple doesn't really care.I believe that Apple puts security of its products at the bottom of the list, with cool design at the top. All this stuff just proves me right, that sure they have a neat casing and a touch screen, but underneath it...; Tags: Apple Inc., Apple iPhone, security, iPhone security; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
I have to stop using Gmail :(: I have to stop using Gmail :(You can enable POP3 support in Gmail...If you switch on POP3 support in Gmail, then you can still comply with archiving procedures: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=13273That way, you can both send and receive e-mails with an e-mail client like Thunderbird or Evolution or even Outlook Express. I...; Tags: E-mail providers, cloud computing, Using Gmail, Google Gmail, archiving, e-mail; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Judge: Viacom gets 12TB of YouTube user data: A federal judge ordered PDF Google to hand over 12 terabytes of YouTube user data to Viacom, finding that the list of "login IDs" does not qualify as personally identifying information. In opposing Viacom's request for the information, Google had asserted users' privacy rights: "Plaintiffs would...; Tags: Google Inc., Personally Identifiable Information, YouTube Inc., IP, IP Address, User Data, Video, Viacom Inc., Corporate Communications, Marketing, Richard Koman; Blog posts 2008-07-03

12 terabytes of YouTube data: 12 terabytes of YouTube dataHorrible loss for ConsumersThis Judge needs to be taught what he has the power to do, and not to do. This is a clear violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. Not to mention a major privacy issue for all of us that have ever watched...; Tags: Corporate communications, Digital media, Google Inc., YouTube Inc.; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Seven Tech ways to make America better this July 4: Seven Tech ways to make America better this July 4Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.Get the environazi boot of our neck.Build more refineries.Reduce government regulations.Eliminate the Endangered Species Act.Build more dams for flood control.Build more highways to relieve traffic congestion.Relax nuclear power plant requirements to build more reactors.Your mindset is...; Tags: PRODUCTIVITY, Strategy, Telecom & Utilities, vision, computer; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail's CAPTCHA broken by spammers: Breaking Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail's CAPTCHAs, has been an urban legend for over two years now, with do-it-yourself CAPTCHA breaking services, and proprietary underground tools assisting spammers, phishers and malware authors into registering hundreds of thousands of bogus accounts for spamming and fraudulent purposes. ...; Tags: CAPTCHA, MSN Hotmail, Google Gmail, Yahoo! Inc., Spammer, HIP Character, E-mail Providers, Internet, Dancho Danchev; Blog posts 2008-07-03
YouTube vs. Viacom: Google's IP wins; Users lose: YouTube vs. Viacom: Google's IP wins; Users loseCompetition?Does Viacom think that a 10 minute pixellated clip of a show or movie is really competition for seeing the entire show/movie on a TV or big screen? This is getting ridiculous. If anything, having these clips on YouTube is free...; Tags: Network technology, NETWORKING, Viacom Inc., Google IP, YouTube Inc., IP, Google Inc.; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Helpdesks and productivity: Helpdesks and productivityGood start, and then...You lost it.1980 CalledThey want their mainframes back. :DWhy don't you explain your present value...calculation. Do you even know what present value means? What time period are we talking?Huh?You imply that on a Sun Ray platform the only problems are the applications or how they...; Tags: Call centers, help desk, Sun Microsystems Inc., Sun Ray, PC; Discussion threads 2008-07-03
Corporation Business Search (exe): Access 100 million company records. See DBA, EIN, and affiliations. From here you can search and access filed information for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and general partnerships. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.; Tags: Partnership, Business Structures, Finance; Software downloads 2008-07-03
AVADirect Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System: If you consider this upper midrange $3,220 AVADirect's Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System representative of the value and build quality available from this small custom builder, we can report that we were mostly happy with this PC, even if we found it loud and its gaming performance a bit...; Tags: Games, AVADirect Core 2 SLI DDR3 Gaming System; Product reviews 2008-07-02
300 Lithuanian sites hacked by Russian hackers: 300 Lithuanian sites hacked by Russian hackersSuggestionThe Lithuanian government should force their telcos to block all IP blocks that are allocated to Russia.If there is such animosity, blocking the Russian chunk of the internet would be a good start.Then at the very least, the hackers would have to use western...; Tags: Hacking, PRODUCTIVITY, Cyberthreats, Spyware, adware & malware, SECURITY, Lithuanian, Lithuanian site, Russian Hackers; Discussion threads 2008-07-02
Microsoft to ratchet IE8 security another notch in Beta 2: Microsoft to ratchet IE8 security another notch in Beta 2Microsoft Press ReleaseOnly the other week Ed ran a story about how shoddy some people are running stories based on software companies press releases/marketing documents. Oh and that companies selling security software try and scare the market about the need for...; Tags: Web browsers, IE8 security, beta, Microsoft Corp., Beta 2, notch, security, Web; Discussion threads 2008-07-02
Do feds track cell users illegally? Legal groups want to know: Do feds track cell users illegally? Legal groups want to knowDoes a bear crap in the woods?Is a frogs a*****e watertight?Does Barbara Walters talk funny?Seriously I believe most law enforcement people have little inclination to do so, especially the heavy data mining nonsense the neocon-spooks are crazy about gathering. ...; Tags: cell user; Discussion threads 2008-07-02
Torrent admin is 'felony infringer': Torrent admin is 'felony infringer'Felony infringerYes, I would agree that this extends beyond fair use... Book'em Dano.RE: Torrent admin is 'felony infringer'I do not think it is right but if it is made out as such a major deal then what is it doing all over the internet Bittorrent...; Tags: DVD, Consumer electronics, Strategy, felony infringer, Torrent, administrator; Discussion threads 2008-07-02
Care to spend your holiday weekend policing directory listings?: I'm not a fan in general of sites that create a listing or profile for you, hoping you'll eventually claim and/or correct it. This tactic, neither user-centric nor user-driven, is insidious for at least three reasons: inaccuracies proliferate, privacy is frequently...; Tags: Reunion.com LLC., Security, Denise Howell; Blog posts 2008-07-02
New Microsoft Office subscription bundle to hit in mid-July: New Microsoft Office subscription bundle to hit in mid-JulyVery nice comboI can't wait for computer manufacturers and builders to start bundling this with systems. Seems like a good idea - like software assurance for home users.RE: New Microsoft Office subscription bundle to hit in mid-JulyI think you can have...; Tags: Microsoft Office, OPEN SOURCE, New Microsoft Office subscription, New Microsoft Office; Discussion threads 2008-07-02
Linux-based cell phone drops July 4: The Openmoko Neo Freerunner, a Linux-based cell phone that "will help enable ubiquitous computing in the 21st century," will be on sale starting July 4, with shipping to begin July 7. According to company specs, the phone utilizes GNU/Linux and comes with core software for dialing, SMS...; Tags: Phone, Cell Phone, Linux, Telecom & Utilities, Open Source, Operating Systems, Software, Andrew Nusca; Blog posts 2008-07-02
So about that Microsoft licensing: So about that Microsoft licensingpenny wise and pound foolishIts not about giving $20K to Redmond. Its about users/teachers being productive and getting the work done so that they have more time to focus on the students.Saving $100 for a licence over the life of the software is nothing. Office is...; Tags: Recruitment & Selection, OpenOffice, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Corp., software; Discussion threads 2008-07-02