this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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I recently made an iOS app that I’d like to distribute the source code for. I was initially going to license it with the GPL, but I read that apparently Apple’s App Store isn’t compatible with the terms of the GPL. Is there something that’s typically recommended by the FOSS community for this situation (other than just not distributing an iOS app)?

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[–] slamphear@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

A few different places (most of which I’m sorry to say I don’t remember), but here’s a notable one.

[–] pylapp@programming.dev 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Yes indeed the Apple App Store is not compatible with GNU GPL v3 licence. Maybe ~~MOL~~ MPLcan suits your needs.

However plenty of open source apps under GPL v3 or AGPL v3 are available on the App Store and Apple does not care.

For example:

[–] slamphear@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Thank you very much! That’s very helpful.

What’s MOL? (Or did you mean MPL?)

[–] pylapp@programming.dev 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] slamphear@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ahh cool, thanks! Yeah, that’s what I had done for my initial release, so maybe I’ll just leave it as it is.

[–] 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

What’s MOL?

My Own ^whateverIfuckingdecide^ License. /jk

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

It sounds like there's been some change since that happened. I would review the current terms and GPLv3, if that's the one you want to use.