A copyleft license is a type of open-source software license that aims to ensure that the freedoms provided by the license are passed on to subsequent users and developers. It achieves this by requiring any modified or extended versions of the original software to be distributed under the same terms.
In essence, a copyleft license uses copyright law to protect the freedoms of the software and its users. It requires that any derivative works, which include modifications, enhancements, or extensions of the original code, must also be distributed under the same copyleft license. This ensures that the software and its derivatives remain open-source and that the source code remains accessible and modifiable by anyone.
The most well-known copyleft license is the GNU General Public License (GPL), but there are other copyleft licenses as well, such as the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) and the Mozilla Public License (MPL).
Copyleft licenses are designed to promote collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of knowledge within the open-source community while also protecting the rights of both developers and users. They help create a culture of openness and cooperation in the world of software development.
