GPLv3licensed

GPLv3-licensed refers to software distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3), a copyleft free software license published by the Free Software Foundation in 2007. The license aims to preserve users’ freedom to run, study, modify, and share software, and to ensure these freedoms apply to downstream recipients as well.

Key obligations include that any distribution of GPLv3-licensed code or its derivatives must also be licensed under GPLv3, with access to the corresponding source code and the original license text. Downstream recipients must retain the same rights, preserving the copyleft nature of the work. Notice requirements and preservation of authorship statements are also required.

GPLv3 introduces explicit patent protections and anti-tivoization provisions. Contributors grant patent rights to users, while the license can terminate those rights if a user engages in patent litigation against the licensor. Anti-tivoization provisions prohibit hardware restrictions that prevent users from running modified versions of the software.

Compatibility and scope are notable considerations. GPLv3 is designed to be internationally applicable and more explicit about patent and distribution terms than its predecessor, GPLv2. It is not automatically compatible with GPLv2-only code; combining GPLv3 code with GPLv2-only components often requires dual licensing or separate distribution terms. Many projects adopt GPLv3-or-later to preserve future compatibility.

Usage and impact: GPLv3-licensed software is common in the free software ecosystem. Notable examples include GNU Emacs and the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) when used under GPLv3-or-later with the appropriate exceptions. GPLv3 contrasts with permissive licenses (such as MIT or Apache) by imposing copyleft requirements that influence how derivative works may be redistributed.