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Quizzes > Computers & IT

Which License Does Linux Use? Test Your Knowledge

Quick, free Linux licensing quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Sol SolUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art style free quiz graphic showing Linux licensing questions and Free Software Foundation founder on teal background

This quiz helps you understand which license Linux uses and how the GNU GPL shapes open-source sharing. Answer quick questions and get instant results to check your knowledge. For related practice, try our linux distro quiz, brush up with an operating system quiz, or explore rights and rules in an intellectual property quiz.

Under which license is the Linux kernel primarily released?
GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3)
MIT License
GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2)
Apache License 2.0
The Linux kernel is released under the GNU General Public License version 2, which grants freedom to use, modify, and distribute, but does not permit relicensing under later versions. It's commonly referred to as "GPLv2 only." .
What does 'GPL' stand for in the context of open-source licensing?
GNU General Public License
GNU Private License
General Private License
Global Public License
GPL stands for GNU General Public License, a free software license that ensures end users have the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. It was authored by Richard Stallman and published by the Free Software Foundation. .
Who originally authored the GNU General Public License?
Richard Stallman
Bill Gates
Linus Torvalds
Steve Jobs
Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation, wrote the original GNU General Public License to protect users' software freedoms. His work laid the foundation for copyleft licensing. .
Which organization did Richard Stallman found to support free software?
Linux Foundation
Open Source Initiative
Apache Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
In 1985, Richard Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to promote computer users' rights to use, study, share, and modify software. The FSF maintains the GNU licenses. .
Which of these best describes the "copyleft" principle?
Requires payment of licensing fees for distribution
Prohibits all commercial use of the software
Allows code to become proprietary if modified
Grants freedom to share and modify while enforcing the same license on derivatives
Copyleft uses copyright law to ensure that all modified and extended versions of the software remain free under the same license terms. It prevents proprietary confinement of modified code. .
Is the source code of the Linux kernel freely available for modification?
True
False
Under its GPLv2 license, the Linux kernel source code must be made available to anyone who receives a binary, and recipients are free to study, modify, and redistribute it. This openness is fundamental to its development model. .
Which version of the GPL introduced explicit anti-Tivoization clauses?
GPLv3
GPLv2
GPLv1
LGPLv3
GPLv3 added provisions to prevent hardware manufacturers from using technical measures to block users from running modified versions, a practice known as Tivoization. These clauses weren't in earlier GPL versions. .
How does the Lesser GPL (LGPL) differ from the standard GPL regarding linking?
Mandates payment for each linked distribution
Prohibits any form of linking with non-free software
Allows proprietary software to link against libraries under certain conditions
Requires all linked code to be relicensed under GPLv3
The LGPL permits proprietary applications to link to LGPL-licensed libraries without subjecting the entire work to GPL terms, provided users can replace or modify the library. This makes it less restrictive. .
Which license is a strong network-copyleft license similar to the GPL but also covers software-as-a-service?
BSD 3-Clause License
GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL)
MIT License
Apache License 2.0
The AGPL extends the GPL by requiring that if you modify the software and let users interact with it over a network, you must offer them the source code. This closes the SaaS loophole. .
Can proprietary kernel modules be legally distributed alongside the Linux kernel under GPLv2?
Only if the module is non-commercial
Yes, all modules are exempt from GPL requirements
Only for academic use
No, unless the distributor has obtained a specific GPL exception
Legally under GPLv2, any derivative work must be licensed under GPLv2, so proprietary modules would violate the license unless an explicit exception is granted. Some distributions include exceptions. .
What does the 'only' in 'GPL-2.0-only' signify?
That the code is licensed specifically under version 2 with no later versions permitted
It includes both version 2 and version 3 options
It refers to only non-commercial use
It is a draft license, not finalized
When a project is designated 'GPL-2.0-only,' it means licensees must follow the terms of GPLv2 exactly and cannot choose to apply later GPL versions. This ensures consistency. .
Which section of GPLv2 prohibits imposing additional restrictions on recipients?
Section 5
Section 7
Section 1
Section 3
Section 3 of GPLv2 states that you may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted by the license. This preserves the original freedoms. .
In GPLv3, what mechanism ensures contributors grant patent licenses to users?
No patent provisions exist
A referral to a third-party patent pool
An express patent license grant in Section 11
A mandatory royalty payment
GPLv3's Section 11 includes an explicit patent license grant, ensuring that contributors cannot assert patents against users of the software. This strengthens patent protections. .
What primary purpose does the Affero GPL (AGPL) serve over standard GPL?
To require paid licensing for SaaS
To remove copyleft requirements
To allow proprietary modules
To require source distribution to users interacting over a network
The AGPL closes the so-called SaaS loophole by obligating distributors of modified code who provide networked services to share their source code with users. It extends GPL requirements. .
Which scenario is generally considered a derivative work under GPL interpretation?
Viewing source code without distributing it
Running the unmodified program on a server
Modifying the source code and distributing a compiled binary
Formatting a printed copy of the manual
When you modify GPL-licensed source code and distribute the resulting binary, your work is a derivative and must be licensed under the GPL. Mere use or printing documentation doesn't trigger this. .
Under GPLv2, can a distributor add additional licensing restrictions beyond those in the license?
No, the license forbids imposing any further restrictions
Only for non-commercial distributions
Only if the source is unmodified
Yes, with permission from the FSF
GPLv2 explicitly prohibits distributors from adding any further restrictions on the rights provided by the license. This ensures that all recipients enjoy the same freedoms. .
Which Linux kernel feature sparked debate over library vs. kernel module licensing status?
Dynamically Loadable Kernel Modules (LKM)
Process scheduler interface
Systemd init system
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
The ability to load modules at runtime led to discussions about whether LKMs are separate works or derivative of the kernel, impacting whether proprietary modules violate GPLv2. .
What legal role does an 'INSTALL' file usually play in a GPL-licensed project?
It serves as an irrevocable patent grant
It establishes a warranty disclaimer
It provides installation instructions and is not a license grant
It replaces the LICENSE file and dictates terms
An 'INSTALL' file typically contains build and installation steps but does not convey licensing terms. The legal license grant is in files named LICENSE or COPYING. .
In legal disputes, how have courts interpreted the GPLv2 requirement to provide source when distributing binaries?
Providing binaries without any mention of source is acceptable
Hosting a URL for download meets the requirement under all jurisdictions
No source delivery is needed if it's non-commercial
A written offer accompanying the binary is sufficient to comply
Court and compliance cases have found that under GPLv2, distributors must either include source code or a written offer for source alongside the binaries. Simply linking to a website without that offer may not suffice. .
How does dual-licensing function for projects offering both GPLv2 and a commercial license?
Dual-licensing is not allowed under GPL
They must comply with both licenses simultaneously
Recipients choose under which license they accept the software
They pay for the commercial license and ignore GPL terms
Dual-licensing permits the recipient to select either the GPL terms (free) or the commercial terms (often with different obligations). They cannot mix requirements from both. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Linux's Software License -

    Understand what type of software license Linux adheres to, including its key terms and conditions under the GNU General Public License.

  2. Analyze Copyleft Principles -

    Examine the core concepts of copyleft licensing and how they ensure the freedoms to use, modify, and distribute Linux.

  3. Differentiate Open-Source Licenses -

    Compare the GNU GPL v2 that powers Linux with other popular open-source licenses to recognize their similarities and differences.

  4. Recognize the FSF Founder -

    Identify who formed the Free Software Foundation to promote open development and learn about their role in advocating for software freedom.

  5. Apply Licensing Knowledge -

    Use your understanding of Linux licensing to assess compliance and best practices when contributing to or selecting open-source projects.

Cheat Sheet

  1. GPLv2 Foundation -

    Linux adheres to the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2), a copyleft license that ensures freedom to use, modify, and distribute the kernel source (kernel.org). A handy mnemonic is "Go, Participate, Liberate!" to recall the spirit of GPLv2. This license obligates derivative works to remain under the same terms, preserving community-driven development.

  2. Copyleft Principle -

    Copyleft flips traditional copyright by requiring any distributed modifications to remain open under GPL terms, so "left" in copyleft reminds you that freedom is always handed back. According to the Free Software Foundation, this mechanism prevents proprietary forks and keeps improvements in the public domain. It's a powerful tool that aligns with Linux's collaborative ethos.

  3. FSF and Richard Stallman -

    Richard M. Stallman formed the Free Software Foundation in 1985 to promote open development and software freedom, answering "who formed the Free Software Foundation" with a mission that still guides Linux's license choices. Remember "RMS" with "Rush My Source" to honor his push for transparency. The FSF maintains the GPL and advocates for users' four essential software freedoms.

  4. Open Kernel Development Model -

    Linux's development on kernel.org is driven by thousands of contributors under a meritocratic hierarchy overseen by maintainers like Linus Torvalds. This structure harnesses the GPLv2's collaborative promise, encouraging peer review and rapid innovation. Keeping track of stable release trees and patch queues is a great way to witness GPL in action.

  5. Compliance & Community Impact -

    Understanding to which license Linux adheres helps distributors follow compliance procedures - GPLv2-only means you must provide source code and disclaimers with every binary. This obligation fosters a vibrant ecosystem of distributions like Debian and Fedora that build on Linux while respecting user freedoms. Staying legally sound under GPLv2 also boosts trust and collaboration across the open-source community.

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