Software propagation is a general term for the copying & duplication of software, and was explicitly defined in version 3 of the GNU General Public License

GNU General Public License

The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....

. The term is deliberately intended to distinguish between the activities permitted by free software licenses and those that are forbidden by various systems of copyright

Copyright

Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...

.

Defined by GNU GPL v3

To "propagate" a work means to do anything with it that, without permission, would make you directly or secondarily liable for infringement under applicable copyright law, except executing it on a computer or modifying a private copy. Propagation includes copying, distribution (with or without modification), making available to the public, and in some countries other activities as well.

External links

• Transcript of Opening session of first international GPLv3 conference, January 16th 2006