Free Software Licenses
Free software licenses are legal agreements that grant users the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute software, often with conditions like copyleft requirements. They are a cornerstone of the open-source and free software movements, ensuring software remains accessible and modifiable. Common examples include the GNU General Public License (GPL), MIT License, and Apache License.
Developers should learn about free software licenses to ensure compliance when using, contributing to, or distributing open-source software, avoiding legal risks. Understanding these licenses helps in choosing the right one for projects to balance openness with protection, such as using GPL for strong copyleft or MIT for permissive licensing. This knowledge is crucial for collaborative development, software governance, and ethical software practices.