GNU GPL is a popular license for open-source and free software. The movement began with a view of giving users more freedom regarding the operation and distribution of a tool.

However, we can see some deviation of the standard in some cases while applying the rules. Although the license is meant for free software and should be determined by the developers, there are bad practices that exist in the market.

Some people purchase a license or get a nulled version and then redistribute it as if they are the owners. You, as a user, might be under the impression that they’re legal as the program you’re downloading run under the GPL.

The objective of this post is to explain what the GPL license means and what doesn’t. On top of that, I’ll tell you why you should abstain from gaining a premium product free, wrongfully feeling assured that it’s GPL-covered.  

The GNU General Public License

The following definition was derived from the official GNU website:

The GNU General Public License is often called the GNU GPL for short; it is used by most GNU programs, and by more than half of all free software packages. The latest version is version 3.

You’ll know more about the license if you understand the organization’s goal which is described on the next paragraph. In a nutshell, GPL is a license that is applied to the programs when it’s built in order to give users access to expanded right. Users can run the program and modify as they want if it’s under a GPL license.

The developers may build their program under GNU package, and not any third party agents or distributors. Similarly, they can sell the products but the price must be open. Users can pay what they want to pay; not a fixed price, of course.

What is GNU?

You may wonder what’s GNU. Simply put, it’s an open-source operating system that originated for making software available to every user without any barrier. Here’s what you’ll find from the organization’s website.

GNU is an operating system that is free software—that is, it respects users’ freedom. The GNU operating system consists of GNU packages (programs specifically released by the GNU Project) as well as free software released by third parties. The development of GNU made it possible to use a computer without software that would trample your freedom.

I think the definition mentioned above is self-explanatory. In 1983, Richard Stallman introduced GNU as an operating system and wanted to connect all the people who will work together, to ensure freedom and better usability for computer programs.

The philosophy

GNU’s primary goal was to give people the right to enjoy extensive ownership of any program they run on their computers.

On a quick note, the four core values strengthened the objectives of GNU.

1. Users can run the program freely 
2. They can change an application from the source code
3. Redistribute rights of all users for the same copies
4. Distribute the modified versions as they want

Popular programs under GPL

If you see the big list of the programs that use GPL, you can get a synopsis of how formidable the license is. I’m mentioning a select few just to give you an idea.

• Audacity
• Drupal
• Greenshot
• Joomla
• MySQL
• Notepad++
• WordPress

Releasing under GPL is not equal to GNU software

GNU is an operating system that aims to make the software more accessible by providing enormous control over users. Anyone can use the GNU GPL for their product launch, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s under the GNU package.

The legal way to make a product GPL-powered, is that the developers must build tools with GNU programs. Without coping with their principles and technology, it’s not possible to announce something ‘Under GPL License.’

Why you shouldn’t get a pro product free

Even though you see that the product is under a GPL license, should you get a premium product free? Well, that’s a question of morality as well as how much value you can earn.

The quality is compromised

Let’s check out the scenario. You’re buying a premium product from a third-party website which doesn’t own the product nor is it authorized to distribute it. What does your common sense say?

• Can you expect the quality to be as promised by the creator?

• Can you take your complains to your service provider?

• Can the distributor provide the quality the same as the developer?

IF you think the answer to all these questions is ‘NO’, you are right. When a product is built, there are some plans attached to it. When we made Fluent Forms, our first year went by looking for the things we should deliver. Then we had to decide what to include in the free version and what goes in the pro.

A year and a half went by, and we realized our users wanted a lot more than we had planned at the beginning. So we listened to them and built a roadmap of what to expect in the upcoming months, and that was primarily based on our users’ suggestions.

Now you see how we value our customer’s opinions and how things work. The moment you decide to get a premium tool for free, you lose the opportunity of sitting in the driver’s seat. 

Behind the steering is now a guy who holds a GPL license (a legal way to do illegal things), and all you get is what he thinks is appropriate. We don’t want this to happen to you. Our plans, efforts, exhaustion – all are dedicated to you, our valued audience.

Although I’m telling you about our company and product developers, this is the exact scene in every start-up out there.

You can’t get product update

Every product owner tries to update its products regularly. It’s essential for winning against their competition and retaining customers with more sophisticated services.

As a new update depicts new features, so it assures bug fixing similarly. If you’re using a pro tool under a GPL license from a third-party provider, you’ll miss all the novel inclusions the tool offers with its updates.

An older version of Fluent Forms has issues with Mautic (a marketing tool) integration. Our developers fixed it on a later release. Now, if you’re an user of that old version, you’ll have problem with Mautic and we can’t help you because you can’t ask for it.

I’ve explained the situation with one of our products. But, it’s common across almost all other products in the market. Now I know what you’re thinking, you can get the update sometimes later. You know there are a few problems.

• When you’ll get the recent release a few months later you’re behind all the exciting new features because there’s another update that you can’t avail right away.

• Think of it this way, there was a critical issue in a version that you’re using now. They fixed it at the next release but you have to wait long for it, sometimes to the point of it getting obsolete. If it takes a long time like a year, are you sure your business will be able to deal with that?

• No such assurance that you can always get the premium version for free. The uploaders have to find the nulled version, and then give it to their users. If they can’t manage it, there’s no way for you to have it.

No support as well

Getting support from the vendor is one of the must-have requirements for a pro user. A product may not work right on many conditions, considering the device, region, operating system, and program-specific issues.

Only the developers who built the program can solve it correctly as they know what could go wrong and how to crack it easily. If I may talk about our support, we even provide help for our free product users, though that is a little rare in the industry.

For our pro users, we respond fast with extra care, 24/7. To get the premium support, you have to be a pro user of our product. Otherwise, your problems won’t reach us, no matter the depth of your trouble.

If you get one of our pro plugins under the GPL license, it means you’re not a valid customer of us. In case of an unwanted trouble, we might want to help, but we can’t because you’re unable to provide a customer ID.

Not to mention that your business may fall in jeopardy because of the tool you have downloaded from an unauthorized third-party website. We have experience working with thousands of small to large companies who use our products for data collection, data presentation, and payment processing. All our insights could be yours, if only you had gotten the product legally.

After getting a GPL-licensed pro product, you may face a serious predicament in the middle of your growth. And then, you’ll regret not getting the right version of the product.

Vulnerability in security

When you buy something from a real vendor, you know where to find them in case an issue arise regarding the service. As you get it from another place other than the original developer, you can’t ask them to help you.

They didn’t develop it, so they don’t know what to do with your particular issue. If you press harder, they might hand you the GPL license, which will help you no way. You know very well they are not bound to help you any further than getting you a product for free which was supposed to be sold.

Now let’s come to the security concern. Remember, you’re having the products from an unknown place, a black market maybe. We have no idea about what they did to the product for the sake of GPL.

If they push something detrimental inside the code, who knows? You can’t deny that’s quite a convenient way of breaching users’ security. The uploader may get some hidden benefits while you download and install something from his website.

In a nutshell, we can’t assure you of anything. We know how our products were built and how they can add value to our user’s lives. And, we’re here, ready with a team to help you through your experience with our products.

It’s not easy to make sure your website is secure. But by following some simple protocols, you can keep your site safe from vulnerability. One of the proven tactics is using quality products from genuine vendors.

What about the developers?

During the development of our Fluent Forms, we have spent one and a half years before the final release of the first version. Back then, we had to discover what customers want and how to provide the best value.

Our journey began after we released it. Over the last three years, we have resolved hundreds of support tickets. Our minds were open to listening to our customers’ voice, and here we are! A product has started a revolution in the WordPress industry.

From the events I have stated above, you may get a glimpse of us striving to build something exceptional. Hundreds of sleepless nights, tons of coffee, working on weekends, staying late at the office – the journey is indescribable.

And what do they do? Wait for a version to get obsolete and then put it up on their website mentioning under the GPL license. And what do you do? You get the product because it’s good and has a valid license.

Amazing!!! That’s how our hard-work’s paid off! I, as a product owner, can launch a product with a GPL license. But, you, as a downloader, don’t have the right to distribute my product.

I hope, next time, you’ll be giving a little bit of your thought on our effort and goodwill to make a product for making people’s lives easier. Don’t promote thefts by inspiring them with your download. Ask them, how do they own the right to sell someone else’s products?

What should you do?

Getting pro products free under GPL is detrimental to your business. As an astute business owner, which path you should follow. Well, the following paragraphs will crack a few suggestions for you.

Why don’t you get the lite version?

Almost all products have some ways of using them legally without paying first. While some products offer a lite or free version, which is obviously less powerful than the premium one, others let the users try the main product as a trial.

As our business in WordPress, we can tell how you can get started easily. Considering some exceptions, almost all plugins are available in WordPress.org. First, get the free plugin, and incorporate it into your projects. If you feel comfortable and need advanced functionalities, buy the plugin.

Moreover, some products allow using the demo version. You may have to send a request to check it out. After that, you can buy the pro if you feel right. What I’m trying to say is you may not always need the pro version, even more maybe this is not the right product for your venture.

As a merchandiser, you spend for various costs and consider it as an investment. Why don’t you invest in a good product that can bring you spectacular benefits in profit margins?

Get a low-cost or cheap deal

You’re familiar with ‘Black Friday,’ ‘Cyber Monday,’ and ‘Boxing Day’ sales? Aren’t you? Besides that, many occasional sales happen all around the year. That includes ‘The 4th of July,’ ‘Christmas,’ ‘New Year,’ and all the big days.

Like physical products, online tools also try not to miss the opportunity to get involved in significant turnarounds. Companies run deals and exclusive discounts; even they sell bundles frequently, which is a collection of several or all premium products. 

Get lifetime deals

Are you worried about the recurring payments? Well, that’s a significant concern for small and medium business owners. It can be a painstaking challenge to pay for the products monthly or annually, no matter your business condition.

The good news is there are lifetime deals for many products. If you can be a smart finder, you’ll get something in a reasonable time worthy of your capability.

Some Facebook groups share information on lifetime deals. You can even get the platforms running for particular options, such as WordPress, eCommerce, or blogging.

Many websites were built to serve only the deals. You can check them as well with a simple Google search. A lot of popular blogs operate specific pages to show lifetime deals.

Opportunities are limitless only when your intention is articulated right. Try to focus on quality when choosing the tools for business or delivering the service for your customers. The escape route will get you nowhere but a state of utter regret.

What are the takeaways?

We love the GNU GPL license, and we support the movement of making the tools more accessible to users. Even we have plugins in the WordPress directory, which are free to use. Our products have enough strength to empower business from the ground-up.

Unfortunately, we also experience how people are misusing our products. How inappropriately they distribute our premium products free. You can see some of our products under the keywords as ‘download ninja tables pro free’ or ‘ download fluent forms pro free.’

Any of the plugins coming under those keywords aren’t supposed to be found. We developed those high-end plugins, and they are meant to be sold not distributed as free because we have separate free versions. Some guys with bad intentions get older versions of the products through the backdoor.

By now, I hope you can understand GNU GPL license means you can use the application at your will. It’s a wonderful distribution package for ensuring extended authorship. At the same time, the GPL license shouldn’t turn a premium product free, especially by unauthorized agents.

Get a free product that is initially free and built under a GPL license by the developers. Don’t get anything pro as free just because it says it’s under GPL. You may have to encounter a lot of troubles throughout the integration of the tool with your projects.