{
  "question": "MIT vs GPL 3.0: what is the difference?",
  "slug": "mit-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/mit-vs-gpl-3-0",
  "short_answer": "MIT: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes. GPL 3.0: the same uses: Yes.",
  "framing": "MIT: Deal in the software without restriction, including to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense and sell it, as long as the copyright and permission notice go with all copies or substantial portions. GPL 3.0: Run, study, change and share the software, including commercially. If you convey it or a work based on it, you must do so under the GPL with the corresponding source.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "MIT: commercial use, modification, redistribution",
      "license": "MIT",
      "license_name": "MIT License",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": true,
        "redistribution": true
      },
      "verdict": "permitted",
      "answer": "Yes",
      "findings": [
        "Every use you described is granted by MIT, and nothing you described is prohibited."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://opensource.org/license/mit"
    },
    {
      "label": "GPL 3.0: the same uses",
      "license": "GPL-3.0-only",
      "license_name": "GNU General Public License v3.0",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "modification": 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": [
      "MIT",
      "GPL-3.0-only"
    ],
    "verdict": "compatible"
  },
  "compare": [
    {
      "license": "MIT",
      "duties": [
        "attribution",
        "license_notice"
      ],
      "notes": [
        "Provided as is, without warranty."
      ]
    },
    {
      "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": [
    "The duties differ: compare the duties and notes listed for each license below."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "MIT License: official text",
      "url": "https://opensource.org/license/mit"
    },
    {
      "title": "MIT on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/MIT.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "GNU General Public License v3.0: official text",
      "url": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html"
    },
    {
      "title": "GPL-3.0-only on the SPDX License List",
      "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/GPL-3.0-only.html"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "MIT",
        "intended_use": {
          "commercial_use": true,
          "modification": true,
          "redistribution": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-19"
}