How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Use Copyleft License
Recently I had an interview for a part-time job of programming. The interviewers told me that I can own the copyright and license under any open source license, even any copyleft licenses such as GPL, I mainly use. However, they also said non-copyleft licenses are preferred for the educational (academic) purpose.
The copyleft license is egoistic. RMS, who invented copyleft, intended to “free” softwares by restricting proprietary use. However, the copyleft license is also useful for proprietary. Qt is a well known example. I also use the copyleft license for my own purpose: to improve my work by including changes made by others.
RMS and his supporters may claim softwares should not be owned by someone, but it’s so natural that people claim their rights for their work. They blame owners of proprietary softwares, but it’s too hasty to determine any proprietary works are bad.
Academic works are to prove the scientific truth and their use should not be restricted. I know that, but I don’t think copyright limits any further investigation for the research itself, and should be preserved.
