Software Licencing And Copyright Questions
Copyright and copyleft are two different approaches to the protection and distribution of software.
Copyright is a legal concept that grants exclusive rights to the creator of a work, such as software, preventing others from copying, distributing, or modifying it without permission. It is an automatic right that applies to any original work, including software, as soon as it is created. Copyright holders have the power to control how their work is used and can choose to license it to others under specific terms and conditions.
On the other hand, copyleft is a specific approach to licensing software that aims to promote the freedom to use, modify, and distribute software. Copyleft licenses, such as the GNU General Public License (GPL), allow users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software, as long as any modifications or derivative works are also licensed under the same terms. This ensures that the software and its derivatives remain free and open-source.
In summary, copyright is a legal right that grants exclusive control over a work, while copyleft is a licensing approach that promotes the freedom to use, modify, and distribute software.