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What is the deal with open source software's contributor license agreements? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Why would I ever need to sign such s thing? If I contribute to an open source project, isn't it obvious that I agree to publish my code under whichever license the project is published under?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting thanks! But is it possible to change the license of already published GPL or MIT code? Like, I get that if they make any additions to the code they can say that from now on it's all rights reserved. But the versions that have already published under GPL or MIT cannot be unpublished, can they?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

They can remove it from their repository but once you have a copy with a GPL license (maybe also MIT but not sure) they cannot revoke it. The GPL license says explicitly that it cannot be revoked just like this.

From the GPLv3:

2. Basic Permissions.

All rights granted under this License are granted for the term of copyright on the Program, and are irrevocable provided the stated conditions are met.

And as you say, the further additions might then be proprietary.

Note that there might be licenses around which can be revoked or terminated. Many proprietary licenses can be terminated. Also common open-source licenses have clauses which allows to be terminated them under certain conditions. For if you violate the license terms, the GPLv3 is terminated for you (but not for others):

8. Termination.

You may not propagate or modify a covered work except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to propagate or modify it is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License [...]