Karthik Magapu - Presentation about GPL at WordCamp Mumbai 2014

GPL – GNU General Public License

WordCamp Mumbai, Mar 2014Karthikraj Magapu

GPL – Origins and History

Father of GPL Richard Stallman

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What is GPL?It’s a Software License!

Not CopyRight, but CopyLeft!@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

GPL – History and Origin …

Xerox Laser Printer@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

GPL – History and Origin …

Gosling EMACS@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

Adoption of GPL

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GPL gives you 4 key Freedoms …

Freedom 1Freedom to RUN the program

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GPL gives you 4 key Freedoms …Freedom 2

Freedom to STUDY and CHANGE the program

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GPL gives you 4 key Freedoms …

Freedom 3Freedom to SHARE the original program

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GPL gives you 4 key Freedoms …

Freedom 4Freedom to SHARE the MODIFIED program

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What does GPL give you?4 Key Freedoms

Freedom to RUN the program

Freedom to STUDY & CHANGE the program

Freedom to SHARE the original program

Freedom to SHARE the MODIFIED program@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

How does GPL foster innovation?

• Ensures that work of great programmers builds up over time - geometrically

• Facilitates small or large contributions• GPL allows people to get credit, while

ensuring that future programmers need not reinvent the wheel

• GPL can create a sense of community, bonding and greater sense than the individual

@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

What about Security Concerns?• Hundreds of Testers and Fixers …• Beta versions of GPL software typically tested

by 1000s of volunteers• Incentive and Passion to fix bugs is high in the

open source community• Some bad things do happen, keep a backup

plan in place!

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GPL and WP Theme and WP Plugin developers?

• WordPress is GPL• Are all Plugins and Themes GPL?• Varied Opinion, and Open to discussion• Split Licensing an option – Theme code, and Theme

HTML,CSS• My Opinion – All WordPress Plugins and Themes need to

be GPL – Plugin and Theme is ‘inserted’ into a WordPress core to modify

its behavior– Plugins or Themes does not have an existence outside

WordPress the core program

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GPL and the content you create – how does GPL affect bloggers?

• GPL does NOT affect any non Code assets– Text, Images, Videos, Audio

• All content created using GPL software is owned by the creator. They have copyright over it!– The author may choose to release it to the public

domain or protect it with their life!

@KarthikMagapu www.hbwsl.com @wpekadotcom www.wpeka.com

Common Myths about GPL• If I use GPL, my new software has to be GPL• I cannot Sell GPL software• GPL software has to be free• You cannot use GPL software in your commercial website

or product• GPL license is very complex• GPL is a copyright• You cannot charge for modifying GPL software for a client• GPL cannot be upheld in a court of law

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References

Some Useful Keywords to Google • GPL history …• GPL WordPress Debate …• GPL Violations …• GPL adoption …

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About MeKarthikraj Magapu (Karthik.Magapu@hbwsl.com)

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Questions?

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