# Why GNU License?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-gnu-license/2531
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [February 9, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-gnu-license/2531 "2013-02-09T05:08:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 47

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### Author: ![hellekin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/hellekin/32/51636_2.png) [@hellekin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hellekin)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-gnu-license/2531/47 "2019-03-18T12:26:54Z")

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Yes. The GPL does not restrict your freedom, it protects it.

That said, most of the time you do not need to make changes to Discourse core, you can as well [write a plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-creating-discourse-plugins/30515) for it. And this plugin has no license obligation if you don’t want to distribute it.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-gnu-license/2531)._