WordPress and the GPL

Transcript

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...

6. None

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

18. None
19. None

20. Developer Protection

21. None
22. None
23. None

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...

43. None

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