{
  "question": "What is the difference between GPL-2.0 and GPL-3.0?",
  "slug": "gpl-2-0-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/gpl-2-0-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "short_answer": "GPL-3.0 code shipped commercially: Yes.",
  "framing": "Both are strong copyleft licenses; GPL-3.0 adds an explicit patent grant, anti-tivoization rules and compatibility with Apache-2.0.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "GPL-3.0 code shipped commercially",
      "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
      "license_name": "GNU General Public License v3.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by GPL 3.0, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html"
    }
  ],
  "compatibility": {
    "licenses": [
      "GPL-2.0-only",
      "GPL-3.0-only"
    ],
    "verdict": "compatible"
  },
  "compare": [
    {
      "license": "GPL-2.0-only",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Sublicensing is not allowed; every recipient receives a license from the original licensor.",
        "Running the software, including as a network service, does not by itself trigger the duty to share source; distributing copies does.",
        "GPL-2.0-only code cannot be combined with GPL-3.0 or Apache-2.0 code in one distributed work."
      ]
    },
    {
      "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice",
        "state_changes",
        "share_alike",
        "source_disclosure"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Sublicensing is not allowed; every recipient receives a license from the original licensors (sections 2 and 10).",
        "Running the software, including as a network service, does not by itself trigger the duty to share source; conveying copies does."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "\"Only\" and \"or later\" matter: GPL-2.0-only code cannot be relicensed to GPL-3.0."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "GNU GPL v3.0",
      "url": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "Why upgrade to GPLv3",
      "url": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/rms-why-gplv3.html"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
        "intended_use": {
          "commercial_use": true,
          "redistribution": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-23"
}