Difference between GPL, BSD and MIT
Developers and designers typically have very specific goals with regard to their work, with many opting to release them as open-source projects. Of course licenses are still required for these projects, and GPL, BSD and MIT are ones amongst the most commonly used. This comparison article takes a look at what these licenses have in common and how they differ.
Profile
GPL typically refers to the GNU General Public License, which is the most commonly used free software license today. GPL was originally devised by Richard Stallman for the GNU project.
BSD refers to the group of permissive free software licenses. They were originally intended for the Berkeley Software Distribution system, which is quite similar to Unix.
MIT is a free software license that was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is used mostly by the MIT X Consortium.
Details
GPL was the first copyleft license developed for general use, in that only derivative projects can be distributed with the same license. Under the terms of this license, users of a particular program are given the right to the free software definition, and copyleft is used in order to preserve user freedoms even in the event of modifications and/or additions.
BSD allows for the proprietary use of software, and allows the specific software to be used along with proprietary products. Works based on this software may be used with a proprietary license, or it may be licensed as closed source software.
MIT is often referred to as the X11 license, since many versions have been used by MIT in the past. This is also the same license used in the X Window System. Some of the packages that have used this license are Expat, PuTTY, Ruby on Rails, and Lua, among others.
Versions
GPL has gone through quite a few different versions, with versions 1, 2 and 3 being the most prominent. The first version was released in January 1989, and it was responsible for preventing the restrictions placed by software distributors on free software.
BSD for its part has been released in two main versions: the New BSD License/Modified BSD License and the Simplified BSD License/FreeBSD License. These have both been verified as free software licenses that are compatible with GPL, a distinction that was made by no less than the Free Software Foundation
As for the MIT license, its main defining characteristic is that it can be modified to suit specific needs. This was exemplified in the acquiescence of the Free Software Foundation to use a modified version of the MIT License for ncurses in 1998, dependent on certain terms of use.
Similarities and Differences
GPL
- Refers to the GNU General Public License
- Is the most commonly used free software license today
BSD
- A group of permissive free software licenses
- Originally intended for the Berkeley Software Distribution system
MIT
- Free software license developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Is used mostly by the MIT X Consortium
