WordPress and the GPL

Slides from WordCamp Miami 2013

1. GPL @SiobhanPMcKeown #wcmia
2. GPL GNU General Public License
3. GPL Free Software License
4. GPL Free as in freedom, not as in beer
5. In the beginning...
7. “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.”
8. GPL GNU General Public License
9. Freedom
10. Freedom User
11. Freedoms 4
12. Freedom 0 to run the program, for any purpose
13. Freedom 1 study how the program works, and modify it
14. Freedom 2 redistribute copies
15. Freedom 3 distribute modified versions
16. Copyright
17. Copyleft
20. Developer Protection
24. b2 blogging software
25. b2 © Michel Valdrighi
26. 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.”
27. b2 06.10.01 “he's using MY design + MY news script and not even linking it.”
28. “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
29. “I guess this makes a b2 license for now.” b2 19.10.01
30. “from now on b2 will be released under the GPL.” b2 03.02.02 b2 0.6 pre-release
31. b2 is Free Software
32. b2 is Free Software (free as in freedom, not as in beer)
33. WordPress is Free Software (free as in freedom, not as in beer)
34. the end of the story?
35. Moveable type 3.0
36. Freedom 0 the freedom to run the program, for any purpose
37. Freedom 0 Freedom 1 Freedom 2 Freedom 3
38. ZOMG!
39. ZOMG! people can give my stuff away for free!
40. ZOMG! how can I do client work?
41. ZOMG! it’s impossible to run a successful business!
42. don’t take my word for it...
44. “Going GPL didn’t change anything about our business.” Adii Pienaar
45. “we got a lot of flack when we forked Jigoshop to create WooCommerce” Adii Pienaar
46. “The GPL gave us the opportunity to contribute to WordPress core, which is now being used by millions of people.” Adii Pienaar
47. “It influences the general quality of code within the WordPress ecosystem, making all products (as a collective) better.” Adii Pienaar
48. “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
49. “It’s not about money; it’s about freedom.” Mark Pilgrim
50. The End
51. The End?
52. Questions? @SiobhanPMcKeown