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Open and Closed Sources

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Submitted By skds
Words 705
Pages 3
Stephen Sylvester
Roles of Public License
POS/335
John Demory
June 1st 2014

Today, in this paper on GNU I will be talking to you about what a GNU general public license is. I will then go over the exact role that it plays in the world today. Let us first go cover what exactly is a GNU general public license.
The GNU general public license in terms is a free copy left, license for software and other software related works. When software and any other computer-based applications are published and or designed the creator establishes copyright protection and licenses are put into place. This is to protect and ensure the software’s integrity. It is also meant to take away the users freedom to share and change the creator’s works. In comparison, the GNU public license is intended for the guarantee of the users freedom to share and manipulate all versions of almost any free-based software programs. This is to make sure that the software remains absolutely free for all users.
The role that the GNU general public license plays today is mainly for the software developers. These software developers use the GNU general public license to assert copyright on the software and or programs that they create. The GNU general public license also offers the users this license as well, giving then permission to copy, modify, and distribute that particular software that they have modified. All users of the GNU general public license are granted for copyright on the programs, this license gives you unlimited permission to run the unmodified program. If running a modified version, this license gives you right to do so.
For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, you must give that same user the same rights and freedom to use that program, as you received. If you choose to modify any specific program the user can do so as long as the work is not an exact copy of the original and contains form of change to the way the system runs and/or the user can just add enhancements. This can be achieved by giving them the source code. You must also show the users the terms and conditions of your software, so they know their rights to the free software. If you are just a user of any specific free software you are not required to have or accept GNU license in order to run the program.
Another example of this would be when MySpace came out. Then, a few years later with just a few enhancements Facebook came along and dominated the social media space. Even though Facebook was similar to MySpace because both software applications are free, one could say that you could just copy the idea or concept. Anyone could have done it and created a multi billion dollar company. With just a few adjustments such as, the type of user groups they focus on, sign up features that are quite similar, and the designs within the system. Facebook has created upon what MySpace first thought of. I compare this to the designing of cars. Just because two car companies have the same type of car (i.e. van), each car company will always try to outdo the other by adding in additional features to their vehicle. The Honda Odyssey just came out with a built in vacuum cleaner in their trunk. This is something that no other van has, but modifications have been made to the original. Therefore, there will always be something out there that is better than the original version due to these modifications and enhancements being made.
In conclusion, in this paper on GNU, I have covered what a GNU general public license is. I have also covered the exact role that it plays in the world today. I have provided multiple examples of this in order for you to obtain a better understanding of the GNU general public license exact role. I hope that this paper has given you a solid foundation and understanding for what a GNU public license is and how it could possibly benefit you in your current career.

Citation:
Operating systems Internals and Design Principles (). (2012). Operating Systems. : William Stallings.

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