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Other people have other goals, and sometimes the BSD style…

“Other people have other goals, and sometimes the BSD style licenses are better for those goals. I personally tend to prefer the GPL, but that really doesn't mean that the GPL is any way inherently superior - it depends on what you want the license to do.” quote by Linus Torvalds
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“Other people have other goals, and sometimes the BSD style licenses are better for those goals. I personally tend to prefer the GPL, but that really doesn't mean that the GPL is any way inherently superior - it depends on what you want the license to do.”

Linus Torvalds

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

License choice should match project goals; no license is universally superior.

In simple terms: Pick licenses that fit your needs.

Key Takeaway

Align license with intent.

Themes

software licensing open source goals GPL BSD

Mood

analytical practical

Type

technical educational

When to use this quote

  • software development
  • corporate adoption
  • academic research
  • startup launch

Key Concepts

compatibility freedom community legal strategy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What outcomes do you want your license to enable?
  • How might a different license affect contributors?
A Different Perspective

Choosing a license without considering goals can cause legal conflicts.

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