- How did the lecture on copyleft licenses inform your license choice?
Before talking about licenses in open-source projects, it’s helpful to understand the difference between open-source and closed-source (also called proprietary) software.
Closed-source software, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop, is owned and controlled by the company or individual that created it. Only they can see, copy, or change the code. If you want to use this type of software, you must follow the rules set by its creators. Usually, this means you can’t change how it works or share it with others (Avatavului et al., 2023).
Open-source software (OSS), on the other hand, is when the creators make the source code public (Hoffmann, Nagle and Zhou, 2024). Anyone can view, copy, modify, or share it (Black Duck, nd). This makes open-source more flexible and community-driven. Good examples include the Linux and the Firefox web browser.
Just like with proprietary software, open-source software also comes with a license that users must accept. However, the terms are very different.
Open-source licenses are what make it possible for users to use, study, change, and share the software freely. Generally, they allow people to use the software for any purpose. However, not all open-source licenses work the same way (Opensource.com, nd).
Based on the rules they set for how the software can be used or shared, open-source licenses usually fall into two main types (as seen in Figure 2): copyleft and permissive licenses (EPAM SolutionsHub, 2023).
Copyleft license
Permissive licenses
Copyleft Copyleft is a type of open-source license that gives everyone permission to use, copy, and share creative work, like software, writing, or digital art. It works differently from traditional copyright.
While copyright usually gives control to one person or company to protect their own creation, copyleft uses copyright in a way that protects the rights of the whole community. It says that anyone can use or change the work, as long as they also share their changes under the same license.
This helps keep the work open and available to everyone, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of knowledge (Friedman, 2025).
Permissive licenses are a type of open-source license that gives users a lot of freedom. As the name suggests, they are very flexible; you can use the software, change it, and even include it in proprietary (closed-source) projects.
The main rule is to give credit to the original author. This usually means keeping the original copyright notice in your version of the software. Unlike copyleft licenses, permissive ones don’t require you to share your modified source code.
Popular permissive licenses include the MIT License and the Apache License 2.0. These are often used in projects where developers want to encourage wide adoption with fewer restrictions (Kaur, 2021).
Choosing the right license
When contributing to or creating an open-source project, it’s important to choose the license that best fits your goals. If your main priority is to keep the project open and ensure that future users also share their changes, a copyleft license like the GNU General Public License (GPL) might be the right choice. This can help build a strong, collaborative community around your project.
On the other hand, if you want your code to be used as widely as possible, even in commercial or closed-source products, a permissive license like the MIT or Apache 2.0 license might be better. These licenses lower the barrier for adoption and allow others to integrate your work more freely.
My experience with licensing
As part of my contribution to the freeCodeCamp Italian translation project, I worked with content released under an open-source license. While freeCodeCamp uses more than one license, the core curriculum is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This allows for translation and adaptation, even for commercial use, as long as proper credit is given to freeCodeCamp and the license terms are followed.
While open-source software typically uses licenses like GPL or MIT, educational platforms such as freeCodeCamp rely on Creative Commons licenses for their learning materials. These licenses follow similar values of openness, collaboration, and reuse.
Learning about open-source licenses helped me appreciate the philosophy behind these projects: collaboration, transparency, and shared learning. It also reminded me that licensing isn’t just a legal formality; it plays a central role in shaping how a project develops and who can take part in it.
Final Thoughts
Open-source licenses are more than just legal tools; they’re part of the culture of openness and cooperation that makes projects like Linux, Firefox, or freeCodeCamp possible. Understanding the differences between copyleft and permissive licenses can help you make informed decisions, whether you’re starting a new project or contributing to an existing one.
References:
Avatavului, C. et al. (2023) “Open-Source and Closed-Source Projects: A Fair Comparison,” Journal of Information Systems & Operations Management, 17(2).
Black Duck (no date) What is open source software? Available at: https://www.blackduck.com/glossary/what-is-open-source-software.html (Accessed: May 19, 2025).
EPAM SolutionsHub (2023) Open Source Licenses – Definition, Types, and Comparison. Available at: https://solutionshub.epam.com/blog/post/open-source-licenses-definition-types-and-comparison (Accessed: May 19, 2025).
Friedman, K. (2025) Copyleft | Creative Commons, Open Source & Free Software | Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/copyleft (Accessed: May 19, 2025).
Hoffmann, M., Nagle, F. and Zhou, Y. (2024) The Value of Open Source Software.
Kaur, G. (2021) Understanding Open Source Licenses and What Drupal’s Licensed Under. Available at: https://opensenselabs.com/blog/understanding-open-source-licenses-and-what-drupals-licensed-under (Accessed: May 19, 2025).
Opensource.com (no date) What is open source? | Opensource.com. Available at: https://opensource.com/resources/what-open-source (Accessed: May 19, 2025).