Licensing Note: Apache and GPL

Just a quick note, that came up during last week’s push to tame the review queue: the ApacheApache Apache is the most widely used web server software. Developed and maintained by Apache Software Foundation. Apache is an Open Source software available for free. 2.0 license is GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples.-compatible, but only with version 3.0 of the GPL. Works that are either GPLv2.0 or GPLv3.0 are appropriate to be hosted in the Theme directory, so that’s not a problem; however, works that incorporate or bundle Apache 2.0 works must use either unversioned GPL, or GPLv3.0 explicitly.

The most likely occurrence of this issue is with Themes developed using Twitter Bootstrap. When reviewing such Themes, please be sure to check that, if the Theme is licensed under GPL, that the license specifies either unversioned GPL, or GPLv3.0.

(And if for any reason this interpretation is incorrect, please discuss in the comments.)

Edit

Note, by “unversioned” GPL, I am referring to the current version of the GNU GPL, which can be found at this URL, and which currently is GPLv3.

What is important is the actual license text associated with the Theme: whether called simply “GPL” or explicitly GPLv3, the license text must be GPLv3. A Theme that claims the license is “GPL”, but that ships with a license.txt that is GPLv2 would not be able to bundle an Apache 2.0-licensed work.

#apache-2-0, #gpl, #license

John Turner 3:24 pm on March 4, 2013

Note also Bootstrap will being changing to an MIT licenses for Version 3. I think this is compatible with both 2 and 3.But if someone could confirm.

http://blog.getbootstrap.com/2012/12/10/bootstrap-3-plans/
- Chip Bennett 3:29 pm on March 4, 2013
  
  Correct: MIT is generally GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples. compatible. (And, good news re: Bootstrap licensing change!)
Anonymous User 3:31 pm on March 4, 2013

nitpicky, but it’s no longer called “twitter bootstrap” … just “bootstrap”.
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Mark Jaquith 7:49 pm on March 4, 2013

If a theme is incorporating ApacheApache Apache is the most widely used web server software. Developed and maintained by Apache Software Foundation. Apache is an Open Source software available for free. 2.0 licensed elements, then it must be licensed as GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples. v3. “Unversioned GPL” would include GPL 1.0 and 2.0, neither of which are compatible with Apache 2.0.
- Chip Bennett 8:17 pm on March 4, 2013
  
  Mark, wouldn’t “unversioned” GPL be this?
  - Emil Uzelac 9:15 pm on March 4, 2013
    
    That would be GPLv3 🙂
    - Chip Bennett 9:21 pm on March 4, 2013
      
      Currently, yes. As GNU interprets it, “GNU GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples.” refers to whatever the current version is. The key is the actual text that gets linked via License URI:. I’ll clarify in the post…
      - Emil Uzelac 12:55 am on March 5, 2013
        
        sure
- Chip Bennett 1:01 am on March 5, 2013
  
  See post edit, which clarifies what I meant by “unversioned” GPLGPL GPL is an acronym for GNU Public License. It is the standard license WordPress uses for Open Source licensing https://wordpress.org/about/license/. The GPL is a ‘copyleft’ license https://www.gnu.org/licenses/copyleft.en.html. This means that derivative work can only be distributed under the same license terms. This is in distinction to permissive free software licenses, of which the BSD license and the MIT License are widely used examples.. We’re saying the same thing here, but I wanted to make sure the point was more explicit.