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this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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No they can't, at least not legally. Part of using GPL software is that you need to include the GPL with any changes you make.
It's the entire point of the license and the concept behind copyleft.
You only need to provide source code to your users. There’s no need to provide a public git repository to the world.
You can fork GPL software and sell it. If one of your customers asks, you can send them a copy of the source code on a DVD. This is all the GPL requires.
Reread that quote, and you will see that I was saying that just because they are required to distribute the source code with binaries--which they are only required to do if they distribute binaries--does not mean that they have to take any steps to contribute the changes they've made to the upstream project.
You're partially right. They don't have to "contribute back" by submitting pull requests or something similar.
They do have to contribute back by making their changes publicly available. Whether upstream uses those changes is up to them.
I'm going to ignore you now since all of your replies have shown me you're a moron. Peace.
I would rather be a moron than someone who calls for others to be tarred and feathered over their choice of an open source software license of all things.