Open Source Doesn’t Mean Public Domain
It seems that a large majority of the general population is confused as to exactly what open-source is. There is a widespread misconception that open-source and public domain are synonymous when talking about software, Linux in particular.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and understanding the difference is crucial, not just to programmers, but to the general public. While there may be some disagreements on the topic of intellectual property, the fact that Linux, and all open-source code, depends on copyright law should assuage any fears that� Linux is anti-capitalist.
The GNU General Public License (GPL) is a widely used open-source license, and covers most parts of the Linux kernel. The GPL binds the recipient of open source software to a set of restrictions governing the ongoing licensing of the open source software.
Public Domain software (or anything else, for that matter, have, by definition, no restrictions placed on the use by the public at large. Because most open-source software is covered by the GPL or a similiar license, it cannot be considered public domain.
About this entry
You’re currently reading “Open Source Doesn’t Mean Public Domain,” an entry on JONTILLMAN.COM
- Published:
- 6.7.06 / 10am
- Category:
- Pondering
- Tags:
4 Comments
Jump to comment form | comments rss [?] | trackback uri [?]