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Gnu General Public License (Gpl)

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Submitted By Janelle2917
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The GNU General Public License (GPL) is a free, copy left license used primarily for software. The GNU GPL allows users to change and share all versions of a program. It’s provided through the Free Software Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that works to provide free software for the GNU Project. *** General Public License is intended to guarantee ones freedom to share and change free software and also to make sure the software is free for all its users. This General Public License applies to most of the Free Software Foundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to using it. General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
History
The GNU Program was launched in 1984 for the express purpose of developing operating systems that are similar to Unix. Richard Stallman produced the first GPL through the GNU Program in 1989. Licensees must adhere to the designated terms and conditions of the GPLs and owners may sell copies of programs under GPL, or distribute them for free. With GPL owners are now allowed to modify digital materials as well.
Role
This License applies to any program or other work which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed under the terms of this General Public License. Under the General public license you may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's source code as you receive it, modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of it, and copy and distribute such modifications. As well as copy and distribute the Program in object code or executable form. Each author is also protected by not having to provide a warranty for the free software. This means if the software is modified by another author and passed on, it understood that what they have downloaded is not the original file. Where’s in the future if any problems occur, it will not reflect poorly on the original author.
Restrictions
The GNU public license has but one restriction. You cannot forbid anyone, whether making your version of the software available at no price or a fee, to deny the rights or ask anyone to surrender the rights to the software. The downloaded must be able to distribute or make copies of your software just as you had the same rights. You must make sure they are able to get to the source code and these terms must be shown in order to make them aware of these rights to it.

References

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E22471_01/html/E26049/appendix.html

http://tigcc.ticalc.org/doc/gnugpl.html
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3501/gnu-general-public-license-gpl

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