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| cple:copyleft [2026/03/10 12:37] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | cple:copyleft [2026/05/02 09:12] (current) – [What is copyleft?] Simon Grant |
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| # Copyleft | This topic is part of [[gt:digital|Digital & media]] and [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]]. |
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| | ====== Copyleft ====== |
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| ## What is copyleft? | ===== What is copyleft? ===== |
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| It’s a general term, covering a range of licences that can be applied to different types of creative output, from poetry, photography and music to design specifications and [software](/foss/open_source). The main idea with copyleft is to allow others to do what you’d like them to be able to do with your work – but then, after they’ve used it, copied it, and/or amended it, the conditions in the licence you chose will still apply. So, for example, it will prevent companies from taking the work of others that has been made freely available, changing it a little, and then ‘enclosing’ it by charging for it and preventing it from being used freely. | It’s a general term, covering a range of licences that can be applied to different types of creative output, from poetry, photography and music to design specifications and [software](/foss/open_source). The main idea with copyleft is to allow others to do what you’d like them to be able to do with your work – but then, after they’ve used it, copied it, and/or amended it, the conditions in the licence you chose will still apply. So, for example, it will prevent companies from taking the work of others that has been made freely available, changing it a little, and then ‘enclosing’ it by charging for it and preventing it from being used freely. |
| The first copyleft licences were the [GNU software licences](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/) developed by MIT engineer [Richard Stallman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman) in the 1980s. Stallman had amended some software so that others could benefit from his improvements, but found that subsequent versions of similar software had been patented, preventing its further improvement. Stallman worked with a lawyer to design the first copyleft licence, to ensure that he never improved software that was then enclosed and privatised. Here’s Stallman’s [GNU Manifesto](https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.html). | The first copyleft licences were the [GNU software licences](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/) developed by MIT engineer [Richard Stallman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman) in the 1980s. Stallman had amended some software so that others could benefit from his improvements, but found that subsequent versions of similar software had been patented, preventing its further improvement. Stallman worked with a lawyer to design the first copyleft licence, to ensure that he never improved software that was then enclosed and privatised. Here’s Stallman’s [GNU Manifesto](https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.html). |
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| Software was not subject to copyright at all until the mid-1970s, after which time, the corporate world started to patent all the software they developed. This was disparagingly called the ‘[S](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983)[econd](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983) [E](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983)[nclosure](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983) [M](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983)[ovement](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983)’ ([here’s the first one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enclosure)), and was the subject of Michael Heller’s famous 1998 essay _[The Tragedy of the Anticommons](http://wealthofthecommons.org/essay/tragedy-anticommons),_ which concluded that patent rights can prevent useful and affordable things coming to market. This was in opposition to _[The Tragedy of the Commons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons)_, by Garrett Hardin, who claimed that common use of a resource would deplete it (although he wasn’t describing a true commons, which is well-governed by its users). | Software was not subject to copyright at all until the mid-1970s, after which time, the corporate world started to patent all the software they developed. In 2003, this was disparagingly called the ‘[Second Enclosure Movement](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470983)’ ([here’s the first one](wp>Enclosure)), and was the subject of Michael Heller’s famous 1998 essay _[The Tragedy of the Anticommons](http://wealthofthecommons.org/essay/tragedy-anticommons),_ which concluded that patent rights can prevent useful and affordable things coming to market. This was in opposition to _[The Tragedy of the Commons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons)_, by Garrett Hardin, who claimed that common use of a resource would deplete it (although he wasn’t describing a true commons, which is well-governed by its users). |
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| <WRAP center centeralign> | <WRAP center centeralign> |
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| ## What are the benefits of copyleft? | ===== What are the benefits of copyleft? ===== |
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| For many artists, copyright isn’t helpful to them in maximising the number of people they can reach. Copyleft tools are proven to be extremely useful in helping you reach the widest possible audience, whilst keeping the level of control that you want – protecting what you create under your own terms, but allowing others to improve your creation. This helps overall creativity. | For many artists, copyright isn’t helpful to them in maximising the number of people they can reach. Copyleft tools are proven to be extremely useful in helping you reach the widest possible audience, whilst keeping the level of control that you want – protecting what you create under your own terms, but allowing others to improve your creation. This helps overall creativity. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| Copyright law differs between countries, so it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of how it works in your country. As mentioned, copyleft is, ironically, protected by copyright law, and so your work should have a copyright notice – the backwards ‘C’ in the main image above has no legal standing, and is only for amusement, and possibly to draw people in (it worked, didn’t it?). | Copyright law differs between countries, so it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of how it works in your country. As mentioned, copyleft is, ironically, protected by copyright law, and so your work should have a copyright notice – the backwards ‘C’ in the main image above has no legal standing, and is only for amusement, and possibly to draw people in (it worked, didn’t it?). |
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| ### Software | ==== Software ==== |
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| - The [GNU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) [G](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[eneral Public Licence (G](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[PL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) is the most popular copyleft software licence. | - The [GNU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) [G](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[eneral Public Licence (G](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[PL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License)[)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License) is the most popular copyleft software licence. |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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| ### Other creative work | ==== Other creative work ==== |
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| Go to the [Creative Commons](https://creativecommons.org/) website – everything is explained there for beginners. Find the licence that best describes how you would like your work to be used, and the licence will be generated for you, along with an icon, that can be used on your work. For example, you can allow others to copy, amend and sell your work, or you can forbid it – it’s up to you. But whatever you choose will remain with the work in perpetuity. | Go to the [Creative Commons](https://creativecommons.org/) website – everything is explained there for beginners. Find the licence that best describes how you would like your work to be used, and the licence will be generated for you, along with an icon, that can be used on your work. For example, you can allow others to copy, amend and sell your work, or you can forbid it – it’s up to you. But whatever you choose will remain with the work in perpetuity. |
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| ## Further resources | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:digital|Digital & media]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/digital). |
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| | It is also in the section [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]] (Forum: [Economy & finance](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/economy)). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| - [Creative Commons](https://creativecommons.org/) | - [Creative Commons](https://creativecommons.org/) |
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| ## Related topics | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| | - [Independent media](indy:independent_media) |
| | - [Free & open source software](foss:open_source) |
| | - [Commoning](comg:commoning) |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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