---
title: "Open talk about Open Source: back to the basics of GPL, what it means, and why it matters"
description: "What the GPL actually means for WordPress, and how to build a commercial business on open source without working against the license."
url: "https://stg-3a6ivm.elementor.cloud/media/open-talk-about-open-source-back-to-the-basics-of-gpl-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters/"
canonical: "https://stg-3a6ivm.elementor.cloud/media/open-talk-about-open-source-back-to-the-basics-of-gpl-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters/"
post_type: "ms_media"
author: "Miriam Schwab"
date_published: "2026-03-22T13:31:22+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-03-22T13:31:23+00:00"
featured_image: "https://stg-3a6ivm.elementor.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/maxresdefault-14.jpg"
extractor: "block"
---

We all know that WordPress is Open Source, and most of us even know that the license is called GPL. Open Source brings with it great power but also great responsibility. On the one hand, a successful Open Source project can have tremendous reach, which in turn means we can impact for good and benefit commercially. However, freedom always comes with some boundaries, and we as a community aren’t always sure what that means for GPL. Let’s look at ways for creating a commercial business model around Open Source, while embracing Open Source as an opportunity and advantage.