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Can GPL Stops Me To Create A non-GPL Product?

by rufaswan
4 replies
Hi there,

I was wondering if I wrote a WordPress theme and release it as GPL License, and latter I wish to reuse the very same codes to make a tutorial to teach people how to make the WordPress theme, does that mean my tutorial must be GPL Licensed or do I have the freedom to choose to use other licenses?

Thank you,
Rufas

(GPL = GNU General Public License)
#create #gpl #nongpl #product #stops
  • Profile picture of the author Denise Million
    Here's what I found out from Wikipedia:
    The text of the GPL is not itself under the GPL. The license's copyright disallows modification of the license. Copying and distributing the license is allowed since the GPL requires recipients get "a copy of this License along with the Program".According to the GPL FAQ, anyone can modify the license as long as they use a different name for the license, don't mention "GNU"
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  • Profile picture of the author CliveG
    Originally Posted by rufaswan View Post

    Hi there,

    I was wondering if I wrote a WordPress theme and release it as GPL License, and latter I wish to reuse the very same codes to make a tutorial to teach people how to make the WordPress theme, does that mean my tutorial must be GPL Licensed or do I have the freedom to choose to use other licenses?

    Thank you,
    Rufas

    (GPL = GNU General Public License)
    My understanding is that if YOU issue something under the GPL then it is issued and you cannot change that subsequently. However, you still own the copyright to the code so there is no reason why YOU cannot use that code to launch a different product under a different licence (or even a more up to date version of the original product).

    But I am not a lawyer.
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  • Profile picture of the author digigo
    @Denise.. OP is talking about product under that license.. not license itself..

    @OP: if it is your original work.. and yes you can license any way you want to.. but if your work is a derivative work of another GPL product, and you distribute it.. you need to make it open source as well..if non of your work is built upon GPL'd product.. you will be fine.. that is idea of free software movement...
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  • Profile picture of the author rufaswan
    Digigo, what I'm trying to do is in the grey area. Yes, my theme is derivate from another GPL product, and that's why it is in GPL. But I'm trying to distribute an ebook (which is completely different format), does that mean I must provide the source document (*.doc file) along with it?

    I have no problem to give the theme source (it is in source format anyway), but what if the code is used for different purpose for different type of audience, does that mean GPL is still effective?

    Thanks
    - Rufas
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