GoKawiilDeveloper switches default open-source license to EU's EUPL-1.2
A veteran software publisher with 28 years of experience has moved from permissive licenses like LGPLv2 and MIT to the EUPL-1.2, a strong copyleft license issued by the European Union. The change closes what the developer calls the 'SaaS loophole,' requiring companies to share modifications even when software is only used as a service rather than distributed.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This shift reflects growing frustration among independent developers that permissive licensing enabled large corporations to profit from free labor without giving back. By adopting EUPL, developers can enforce reciprocity even in cloud-based deployments, a gap that licenses like MIT and Apache never addressed. The move also highlights EUPL's practical advantage of having legally recognized translations in 23 languages, making it more globally enforceable.
- The developer moved from MIT and LGPLv2 licenses to the EU-created EUPL-1.2 for new projects.
- EUPL enforces copyleft obligations even for SaaS use, unlike traditional permissive licenses.
- The change reflects broader disillusionment with permissive open-source licensing benefiting large corporations disproportionately.
Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing" (O'Reilly) — If this developer's journey from LGPL to MIT to EUPL-1.2 sparked your curiosity, this O'Reilly guide walks through how the major free software licenses actually work and how copyleft obligations differ. It's a handy desk reference for anyone choosing a default license for their own projects.
See Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing" (O'Reilly) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: bergie.iki.fi, 2026-09-06
Published there as: “I Changed My License”
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