{"id":20263,"date":"2020-01-30T08:28:36","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T08:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/glosario-digital\/copyleft"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:42:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:42:06","slug":"copyleft","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/copyleft","title":{"rendered":"Copyleft"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Copyleft\"<\/p>\n

Definition:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Copyleft<\/strong> <\/em>is a creation license that consists of releasing a computer program, a work of art or any other type of document for copying, modification and redistribution. It is a legal practice that is carried out in the exercise of copyright. To call it his uses a play on words, since copyleft is the contrast of copyright, whose meaning in English is ‘copyright’. In this case, the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ are used, but also the participle of leave (lefy), translated as ‘left’.<\/p>\n

The Copyleft Foundation defines these licenses as “those that allow greater control of creators over their works, research and projects and a more reasonable compensatory remuneration for their work, also allow end users better access and enjoyment of goods under this type of non-restrictive licenses.”<\/p>\n

In short, copyleft licenses are authorized by the author of the work himself so that they can be used and modified by a large number of users.<\/strong> They are the main example of free licenses, which does not necessarily equate to them being free.<\/p>\n\n

Origin of Copyleft<\/h2>\n

Its origin is in the GNU General Public License (GPL) created by Richard Stallman<\/strong> in the eighties, after a conflict over the rights of a software. Its philosophy is to release computer programs for successive modifications, but it makes it clear that they must carry a copyleft license so that the one who has made the changes cannot limit access to the rest of the users to the new version.<\/p>\n

It is represented with a symbol inverse to that of copyright, which in plain text translates into an inverted c and in parentheses “(\u0254)”.<\/p>\n

Copyleft<\/strong> <\/em>is a creation license that consists of releasing a computer program, a work of art or any other type of document for copying, modification and redistribution. It is a legal practice that is carried out in the exercise of copyright. To call it his uses a play on words, since copyleft is the contrast of copyright, whose meaning in English is ‘copyright’. In this case, the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ are used, but also the participle of leave (lefy), translated as ‘left’.<\/p>\n

Copyleft Foundation<\/h2>\n

The Copyleft Foundation defines these licenses as “those that allow greater control of creators over their works, research and projects and a more reasonable compensatory remuneration for their work, also allow end users better access and enjoyment of goods under this type of non-restrictive licenses.”<\/p>\n

In short, copyleft licenses are authorized by the author of the work himself so that they can be used and modified by a large number of users.<\/strong> They are the main example of free licenses, which does not necessarily equate to them being free.<\/p>\n

Its origin is in the GNU General Public License (GPL) created by Richard Stallman<\/strong> in the eighties, after a conflict over the rights of a software. Its philosophy is to release computer programs for successive modifications, but it makes it clear that they must carry a copyleft license so that the one who has made the changes cannot limit access to the rest of the users to the new version.<\/p>\n

It is represented with a symbol inverse to that of copyright<\/a>, which in plain text translates into an inverted c and in parentheses “(\u0254)”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions about Copyleft<\/h2>\n
\n
\nWhat is Copyleft?<\/summary>\n

Copyleft is a licensing approach that allows a work to be used, modified and distributed, as long as derivative versions maintain similar freedoms. It is especially associated with free software, open content and collaborative culture.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhat is Copyleft used for?<\/summary>\n

It is used to protect the freedom to use and distribute a work by preventing derivative versions from being closed with incompatible restrictions. It facilitates collaboration and ensures that improvements can remain available to the community.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhat is the difference between Copyleft and copyright?<\/summary>\n

Copyright reserves exclusive rights to the author or owner by default. Copyleft uses those rights to grant freedoms of use, copying, modification and distribution under conditions that keep derivative works open.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

\nWhat should someone using a Copyleft license take care of?<\/summary>\n

They should take care of the specific conditions of the license, attribution, distribution of the derived code or content, compatibility with other licenses and obligations to share changes. Not all open licenses work the same way.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n