👉 The "GPL fumes" refer to the legal and ethical concerns surrounding the GNU General Public License (GPL), a widely used free software license that ensures software remains free and open-source. Critics argue that the GPL can create "vendor lock-in," where users become dependent on a single vendor for support and updates, limiting their freedom to choose alternative solutions or modify the software. Additionally, the copyleft nature of the GPL requires derivative works to also be released under the same license, which can be burdensome for companies seeking to commercialize their software while maintaining open-source principles. This has led to debates about the balance between fostering innovation and protecting user rights in the software ecosystem.
