The GNU General Public License (GPL) is a license provided by the Free Software Foundation that guarantees the freedom of software and clearly sets out the terms for modification and redistribution.
Key takeaways
Protecting Free Software
You are free to use, modify, and redistribute the program.
Distribution of modified versions must also maintain a GPL license (copyleft).
Basic steps for applying the GPL
Copyright Check:
If the program is an individual’s copyrighted work, obtain a copyright disclaimer from the employer or school. Even if the program is an individual’s copyrighted work, employer or school rules and laws may consider that the copyright belongs to the employer or school and not to the individual. For this reason, it is recommended to obtain a copyright disclaimer from your employer or school to clearly ensure that the copyright belongs to the individual.
Copyright Notice:
Specify the year and name of the copyright in the file (e.g.). Copyright 2023 John Doe
License file included:
Include a copy of theCOPYING GPL as a file.
In the case of LGPL,COPYING.LESSER it is also added.
License Notice:
Include the license terms at the beginning of the file (see the official guide for examples).
GPL version
GPLv3: Addresses digital rights management (DRM) and patent issues.
LGPL: Library-specific version, also available in proprietary software.
AGPL: Mandatory provision of source code when using over a network.
Other recommendations
Displays copyright and license notices when the program is launched.
The same conditions are maintained when modifying or redistributing GPL files.
Specific notes
Accuracy of copyright notices:
Accurately state the year of creation and the name of the copyright holder.
Source Code Courtesy:
When distributing a program in binary format, specify how to provide the source code.
Clarification of License Notice:
Clearly state the license application in the README and each source file.
GNU GPLv3 is a license published by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) in 2007 that provides provisions to protect the rights of users and developers of free software and to guarantee freedom of sharing and modification of software.
Main Objectives and Features
Guarantee of freedom
Protect your right to freely use, share, and modify the software.
Modified versions and derivative works are also subject to the same license terms to maintain freedom (copyleft).
Digital Rights Management (DRM) Compliance
Prohibition of hardware or technical techniques (DRM) that restrict the modification or installation of software.
Responding to patent issues
Prevent restrictions caused by software patents and ensure the free use of patents.
Obligation to provide source code
When distributing software, it is mandatory to provide the corresponding source code.
Flexible additional conditions
You can add certain conditions (e.g., attribution, trademark restrictions).
Key License Terms
Clause 0: Definitions
Program: Copyrighted work licensed under the GPLv3.
Conveying: The act of providing a copy to others (does not include use over a network).
Corresponding source code: All source code required to generate, execute, and modify object code (executable form).
Clause 1: Fundamental Rights
grants unlimited rights to run programs.
Compliance with license terms is required for the communication and modification of the program.
Section 2: Protection of User Rights
Prohibition of the use of copyright management technology (DRM) to override the terms of the GPL.
Clause 4: Modification and Distribution
If you want to modify and distribute a program, you must:
Specify the location and date of the change.
The entire program is licensed under GPLv3 terms.
For interactive programs, display appropriate legal notices.
Section 5: Distribution in Non-Source Format
When distributing object code (in binary form), provide one of the following:
Corresponding source code.
A written offer to provide the source code.
A link to a place where the source code is available for download.
Clause 6: Automatic grant of rights
Recipients of the program are automatically granted rights under GPLv3.
Clause 7: Patents and Licenses
Ensure that software patents do not limit the terms of GPLv3.
Patent licenses apply equally to all recipients.
Section 8: Regional Restrictions
If the distribution of the program is restricted by patent or law in a particular region, distribution in that region may be prohibited.
Clause 9: New Version
If a new version of GPLv3 is released, you can choose to follow the new version if the program says “or later”.
Clauses 15–16: Exemption and Limitation of Liability
The program is provided without warranty and the copyright holder or distributor is not responsible.
GPLv3 Features
DRM support: GPLv3 prohibits devices from restricting user modifications.
Resolution of patent issues: GPLv3 stipulates that the use of patents must be consistent with the terms of the license.
Added flexibility: You can add conditions such as attribution and trademark restrictions.
Examples of use and application
Example of a description in the source code
/* プログラム名と説明 */
Copyright (C) 2007 Your Name
This program is released under the GPLv3 license.
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
COPYING file attachment COPYING It is recommended to include the full text of GNU GPLv3 in a file named
[GPLv3 (2007)] It is emphasized that license terms also apply when addressing digital rights management (DRM) and patent issues, and when providing programs to users over a network. Official URL: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
GNU Lesser General Public License（LGPL）
It is a license for libraries and is more restrictive than the GPL.
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