the GNU General Public License (GPL)

The GNU General Public License (GPL) is a legal agreement that allows software to be freely used, modified, and shared. If you distribute GPL-licensed software or derivatives, you must also provide the source code and license it under the same terms. This ensures that the software remains free for everyone, promoting collaboration and transparency. Essentially, it protects users’ rights to control and improve the software while encouraging open development. The GPL is widely used in open-source projects to foster community-driven innovation and ensure ongoing freedom for users and developers.