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Does most of free software licenses also qualify for open source?
As far as we know, all existing released free software source code would qualify as open source. Nearly all open source software is free software, but there are exceptions. First, some open source licenses are too restrictive, so they do not qualify as free licenses.
Is GNU a copyleft?
The GNU Free Documentation License (FDL) is a form of copyleft intended for use on a manual, textbook or other document to assure everyone the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without modifications, either commercially or noncommercially.
What license do I need to link to open source code?
The license of your source code must be compatible with the license of the open source code you are linking to. For instance, if your code is proprietary, you won’t be allowed to use a library under the GPL license. This is where people tends to make more mistakes.
Do I need to license a library under the GPL?
Yes, because the program actually links to the library. As such, the terms of the GPL apply to the entire combination. The software modules that link with the library may be under various GPL compatible licenses, but the work as a whole must be licensed under the GPL.
Is it legal to distribute GPL programs on non-GPL OS?
We can force such rules in the jungle, but in real life (juridical of country or state) it depends on who, whom, when and what. The legal problem (law) raise when you do an act of distributing GPL program as binary or library on non GPL OS.
What are the characteristics of open source software?
Most open source licenses include the following statements: Software can be modified, used commercially, and distributed. Software can be modified and used in private. A license and copyright notice must be included in the software. Software authors provide no warranty with the software and are not liable for anything.