ITWissen.info - Tech know how online

copyleft

In open source software, a distinction is made between two basic concepts: licenses with copyleft and permissive licenses. For copyleft licenses, there are special agreements that allow free copying and distribution of the software, as well as modification and further development of the source code.

Copyleft thus places user rights above commercial interests of the software developer and aims to ensure that free distribution and further development serves to improve the software and increase market penetration. The creator of the software retains the copyrights, but grants a license without exclusive rights to persons for the distribution and modification of the software. The further developments and modifications must be made while retaining the original designation.

Copyleft is free software, but it should not be confused with freeware. In contrast to permissive licenses, with copyleft the software enhancements and modifications must be made available to the developer. The further developments must be distributed under the same license conditions as the original work. One of the best known copyleft licenses is GNU General Public License( GNU-GPL).

Signs for Copyright, Copyleft and Copyfree

Signs for Copyright, Copyleft and Copyfree

As a sign Copyleft uses a circle in which the mirrored letter "C" is located, whose opening is on the left. The sign is derived from Copyright, only the letter is rotated.

Informations:
Englisch: copyleft
Updated at: 29.10.2015
#Words: 209
Links: indium (In), open source software (OSS), source code, user rights, free software
Translations: DE
Sharing:    

All rights reserved DATACOM Buchverlag GmbH © 2024