Copyleft For the Next Decade: A Comprehensive Plan
Channel: Linux.conf.au 2016 -- Geelong, Australia
Date: 06/02/2016

Bradley Kuhn
https://linux.conf.au/schedule/30203/view_talk
Copyleft, and the GNU General Public License (GPL) in particular, have faced
serious challenges in the last five years.  It's not over: many more threats
are on the way.  Not by coincidence these attacks on copyleft come when Open
Source seems to reach new heights of success.  For example, hordes of
software developers are funded full time to churn out wonderful new Free
Software, but their employers make one key requirement: develop Free Software
only under non-copyleft licenses.  Some of this new code is specifically
designed to replace existing, widely used, copylefted programs and packages.

Meanwhile, those programs that remain under copyleft licenses (most notably
the kernel named Linux) face a decades long, ongoing myriad of license
violations.  Such violations, most frighteningly, include nefarious attempts
by major companies to shirk their responsibilities under copyleft.  The
situation is undoubtedly bleak.

Those of us who care about software freedom need a plan.  Up until now,
copyleft assured an equal playing field, but big companies work daily to tilt
the playing field in their favor -- directly against the interests of most
developers, hobbyists, users, and enthusiasts.  This talk will present the
political challenges that copyleft continues to face, and offer real actions
that individuals can do to assure software freedom for everyone.