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WordPress and the GPL
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Siobhan McKeown
April 06, 2013
Technology
3
470
WordPress and the GPL
Slides from WordCamp Miami 2013
Siobhan McKeown
April 06, 2013
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Transcript
GPL @SiobhanPMcKeown #wcmia
GPL GNU General Public License
GPL Free Software License
GPL Free as in freedom, not as in beer
In the beginning...
None
“Computer users should be free to modify programs to fit
their needs, and free to share software, because helping each other is the basis of society.”
GPL GNU General Public License
Freedom
Freedom User
Freedoms 4
Freedom 0 to run the program, for any purpose
Freedom 1 study how the program works, and modify it
Freedom 2 redistribute copies
Freedom 3 distribute modified versions
Copyright
Copyleft
None
None
Developer Protection
None
None
None
b2 blogging software
b2 © Michel Valdrighi
b2 01.08.01 “For the moment I don't really care if
you use parts of my code or not, as long as you give me credits for it. [...] b2 isn't released under the GPL yet.”
b2 06.10.01 “he's using MY design + MY news script
and not even linking it.”
“why are copyright infringers so keen on putting a big
ass COPYRIGHT section on sites/things they just copied ? This defies common sense...” b2 19.10.01
“I guess this makes a b2 license for now.” b2
19.10.01
“from now on b2 will be released under the GPL.”
b2 03.02.02 b2 0.6 pre-release
b2 is Free Software
b2 is Free Software (free as in freedom, not as
in beer)
WordPress is Free Software (free as in freedom, not as
in beer)
the end of the story?
Moveable type 3.0
Freedom 0 the freedom to run the program, for any
purpose
Freedom 0 Freedom 1 Freedom 2 Freedom 3
ZOMG!
ZOMG! people can give my stuff away for free!
ZOMG! how can I do client work?
ZOMG! it’s impossible to run a successful business!
don’t take my word for it...
None
“Going GPL didn’t change anything about our business.” Adii Pienaar
“we got a lot of flack when we forked Jigoshop
to create WooCommerce” Adii Pienaar
“The GPL gave us the opportunity to contribute to WordPress
core, which is now being used by millions of people.” Adii Pienaar
“It influences the general quality of code within the WordPress
ecosystem, making all products (as a collective) better.” Adii Pienaar
“It forces theme and plugin providers to focus on the
support of their code as the primary way of building a sustainable business.” Adii Pienaar
“It’s not about money; it’s about freedom.” Mark Pilgrim
The End
The End?
Questions? @SiobhanPMcKeown