Mr. Butterin's Newly Promoted Copyleft License Strategy and Its Background

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has attracted attention for significantly shifting his software licensing strategy. Previously supporting the free use and redistribution of code by developers, Buterin has recently begun advocating for the adoption of a more restrictive copyleft license model. Amid rapid changes in the cryptocurrency industry, the reasons behind Buterin’s shift in thinking are now becoming clear.

Shift in Open Source Strategy: Moving Towards a Different Approach

Historically, Buterin supported more permissive licenses that allow developers to use and redistribute code without restrictions, rather than restrictive licenses like GPL or CC-BY-SA. However, in a recent blog post, he expressed a new perspective and acknowledged the value of stricter copyleft licenses.

In a copyleft license, any derivative projects created and distributed from licensed code must also be released under the same license. This mechanism helps preserve the freedom of open source code while preventing unilateral misuse by corporations.

The Actual Role of CC-BY-SA and GPL Licenses

The core of Buterin’s proposed copyleft license model is the enforcement that derivative works must also be released under the same license when created and distributed. This ensures that developer code is not unilaterally exploited by corporations and that benefits are returned to the community.

While Buterin has stated that he generally opposes copyright systems, his current approach employs a unique strategy of “countering copyright with copyright.” In other words, he aims to leverage copyright tools to enforce open source contributions from more developers and to ensure fair competition across the market.

The Shift Brought About by Mainstream Adoption by Google and Huawei

This change in stance is driven by the rapid intensification of competition in the crypto industry and evolving market conditions. As major companies like Google and Huawei incorporate open source code into their core businesses and mainstream adoption progresses, Buterin has concluded that the current open source strategies are insufficient for adequate protection.

The crypto sector is now experiencing unprecedented levels of competition, shifting towards an environment where profit pursuit takes precedence. In this environment, Buterin recognizes that open source efforts based solely on goodwill are no longer viable.

The Need for Stricter Measures: “Petition Alone Is Not Enough” Reality

Buterin emphasizes that achieving open source goals requires not only “pleading” but also “strict legal measures.” By adopting copyleft licenses, developers who publish open source code retain certain access rights, which they can leverage to protect the interests of the entire community.

This new approach is expected to further enhance transparency and fairness in code usage across the crypto industry. Buterin’s shift towards copyleft strategy signals a maturing development attitude within the industry as a whole.