copyleft: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Legal
Quick answer
What does “copyleft” mean?
A licensing arrangement that grants users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute a work (often software) and its derivatives, provided that all resulting works carry the same freedoms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A licensing arrangement that grants users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute a work (often software) and its derivatives, provided that all resulting works carry the same freedoms.
A philosophy and legal approach, particularly prevalent in open-source software and creative commons movements, which uses copyright law to ensure a work remains freely available and modifiable, in opposition to proprietary restrictions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation differences. Usage is identical in technical and legal contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties, associated with open-source philosophy, software freedom, and anti-proprietary sentiment.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both regions, confined to software development, legal, and academic tech circles.
Grammar
How to Use “copyleft” in a Sentence
to release something under copyleftto apply copyleft to somethingto be copyleft-licensedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “copyleft” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The developer decided to copyleft the library to ensure its derivatives stayed free.
- They copylefted the code under the GPL.
American English
- The foundation copylefts all its software to promote sharing.
- You should copyleft that script if you want modifications to be public.
adverb
British English
- (Not a standard usage)
- (Not a standard usage)
American English
- (Not a standard usage)
- (Not a standard usage)
adjective
British English
- It's a copyleft licence with strong share-alike clauses.
- They prefer copyleft software for their projects.
American English
- The copyleft clause ensures derivative works remain open.
- She advocates for a copyleft approach to academic research.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in tech business models regarding software licensing and IP strategy.
Academic
Analyzed in law, computer science, and digital humanities papers on intellectual property.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Central term in software development, open-source project management, and digital licensing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “copyleft”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “copyleft”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “copyleft”
- Using 'copyleft' to mean simply 'free of copyright' (it uses copyright law).
- Confusing 'copyleft' with 'open source' (copyleft is a specific, restrictive type of open source).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not the opposite. Copyleft uses copyright law to enforce sharing, whereas copyright traditionally enforces restriction. It subverts the typical use of copyright.
Yes. While originating in software (e.g., GPL), the concept is applied to other works via licenses like the Creative Commons ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) for text, art, and music.
Strong copyleft (e.g., GPL) requires any derivative work, even if linked with other code, to be released under the same terms. Weak copyleft (e.g., LGPL) applies mainly to modifications of the original work itself, allowing linking with proprietary code.
Yes, 'viral' is an informal, often pejorative term used by critics to describe strong copyleft licenses, suggesting they 'infect' derivative works with their terms.
A licensing arrangement that grants users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute a work (often software) and its derivatives, provided that all resulting works carry the same freedoms.
Copyleft is usually technical / legal in register.
Copyleft: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒp.i.left/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.pi.left/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All rights reversed (humorous alternative to 'all rights reserved')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'copyright' but turning it LEFT to open it up. Copyleft lets the rights go LEFT to the users, not locked right with the author.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS A TOOL FOR FREEDOM (vs. a tool for control).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a copyleft provision?