Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has shifted his stance on software licensing in the crypto industry, now promoting 'copyleft' open-source licenses to foster innovation amidst an increasingly competitive landscape. He expressed that his previous support for permissive licenses, which allow unrestricted use of software, no longer aligns with the reality of a more mercenary crypto space. Copyleft licenses, while still enabling modification and distribution, require derivative works to also be open-sourced. Buterin argued that this approach is necessary to ensure that the collaborative spirit of open-source software is preserved in an environment where businesses are less inclined to share their innovations voluntarily. He believes that copyleft licenses encourage reciprocity and broader dissemination of code, ultimately benefiting the entire community rather than just a few closed-source entities. While acknowledging potential downsides, such as being overly restrictive, Buterin emphasizes that compliance with copyleft provisions can incentivize more developers to contribute to the open-source ecosystem.

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