Copyleft is one of the distinguishing features of many open source software licenses.

In the end, copyleft became the key issue to be dealt with in the ideological conflict between
the movement of open source and free software movement: copyleft is the short name used
for designate a legal framework that guarantees that any derivative of an authorized work
("licensed work") remains free (which is not mandatory in a general of "open code").

Software licenses

The license is a contract between the author of a computer program and the users. In it
stipulates what users can do with the work: use, redistribution, modification, copies and in
what conditions.

"It's a contract that determines how the author yields - usually in a non-exclusive way - part of
your rights to the user (copy, modification, distribution, etc.), determining in what conditions
the user can use the computer program and detailing the scope of the rights and obligations
associates. "

In the world of software, use licenses are applied. They allow the user to acquire the right to
use the program.

Free licenses

Free software licenses may allow the redistribution of a free program or prohibit
redistribution.

To distribute a program it is necessary to comply with the license. Thus, the license contains
the conditions of use to which users, distributors, integrators and all those who acquire a free
program with a free license.

Conclusions

The use of open source licenses without restrictions by the research community allows the
private sector to retain its capacity to develop basic research on accessible and useful software
products for individual consumers or companies.

All distribution and software development models should be free to compete in the market
and all developers should be able to choose the conditions of their licenses.