---
title: Er copyleft etisk forsvarligt?
#subtitle: |
# Moralfilosofisk undersøgelse af en type af software-licenser

date: 2025-12-18

toc-depth: 2

metadata-files:
  - _actors.yml
keywords:
  - Copyleft
  - sharing economy

link-citations: true
bibliography: ref.bib
csl: apa
resource-path:
- /usr/share/citation-style-language/styles

filters:
  - nobreaks

format:
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    pdfstandard: [A-4f, UA-2]
    tagging: on
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    include-in-header:
# refine hyphenation
    - text: |
        \usepackage{lua-check-hyphen}
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          hyph_ok_any.txt,%
          hyph_ok_american.txt,%
          hyph_ok_danish.txt,%
        }}
        \babelhyphenation[danish]{
          anvend-e-lige % anven-delige
          begynd-ende % begyn-dende
          copy-left % copyl-eft
          der-ud-over % deru-dover
          fang-er-nes % fan-gernes
          for-brug-eren % forbruge-ren
          for-vent-ningen % forventnin-gen
          grundes % grun-des
          hand-ling-er-nes % handlin-gernes
          ide-al-erne % idea-lerne
          kokt-ved-gaard % kok-t-vedgaard
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# add alt text to embedded image, to aid non-visual rendering
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# define missing danish locale strings, and append link to published source
# TODO: override URI suffix (curently falls back to default URI)
    - text: |
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          \@namedef{doclicense@lang@thisDoc}{Dette værk er licenseret under en}
        \makeatother
        \makeatletter
          \@namedef{doclicense@lang@word@license}{-licens.\\
            Kilde er tilgængelig ved
            \href{https://source.abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvxyzæøå.dk/copyleft}{https://source.abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvxyzæøå.dk/copyleft}}
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          \@namedef{doclicense@lang@lic@CC@by-sa@4.0}{Kreditering-DelPåSammeVilkår 4.0 International}
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#keep-tex: true
---

# Abstract

<!--
Denne tekst undersøger en type af software-licenser moralfilosofisk.

hvorvidt vi, når vi deler kreative ressourcer,
bør sikre samme vilkår transitivt som vi tildeler direkte.
Open Knowledge er kreative ressourcer som er sikret,
så de frit må deles og videreudvikles af enhver.
Noget Open Knowledge er yderligere sikret,
således at delte *videreudviklede* kreative ressourcer
også frit må deles og videreudvikles af enhver.
Det etiske princip,
om omsorg for fri adgang til kollaboration, også iterativt,
kaldes etisk fremsyn
[eller måske *berører* det etisk fremsyn,
og *vi* kalder det i denne tekst **fremsynskollaborativ deling**].
I denne tekst undersøges det,
hvorvidt etisk fremsyn er normativt,
dvs. hvorvidt vi, når vi deler, bør sikre samme vilkår transitivt
som vi tildeler direkte.
-->

::: {lang=en}

With the rise of information technology,
non-physical creations are being shared more widely than ever before.
These works are shared under various different normative guiding principles,
but among them,
the four freedoms central to free software promise universal guiding principles
for sharing with the greatest degree of freedom to use, modify,
distribute and improve software.
Copyleft is an additional principle that ensures works derived
from free software also uphold the four freedoms.

This project investigates the normative implications
of different formulations of the principle of copyleft.
The report begins by first laying out the central theories of normative ethics --
deontology, consequentialism and contractualism.
Then, through systematic ethical analysis,
the moral defensibility of the copyleft principle is derived
based on each of the three normative theories.
After identifying relevant necessary commitments and principles
from the results of the analysis,
the method of reflective equilibrium is applied to adjust
commitments and principles to ensure coherence and consistency
within each of the three normative theories.

The contractualist approach used a strong formulation
of the copyleft principle during analysis,
but this was adjusted into a more moderate but still strong position
that the four freedoms should be made the moral default when sharing software.
The deontological analysis proved fruitful,
as the reflective equilibrium did not bring change to the principle.
The consequentialist approach was initially compatible with the principle of copyleft,
except for cases where, under a utilitarian perspective,
the four freedoms could potentially limit societal efficiency,
economic growth, or broader welfare outcomes

The project concludes that each of the normative theories
can be made compatible with some version of the copyleft principle,
though the strength and formulation of the principle vary across the theories.

<!--
Open Source is a popular praxis for sharing creative resources.
Several variants of Open Source exist,
of which one the older ones---copyleft---is distinguished
by it embedding an ethical principle called ethical foresight.
This paper investigates
whether ethical foresight is normative
for commons-based peer production.
-->

:::

# Indledning og problemfelt

{{< include intro.md >}}

{{< include problem.md >}}

# Metode

{{< include overview-method.md >}}

# Empiri

{{< include overview-copyleft.md >}}

# Teori

{{< include overview-theory.md >}}

## Konsekventialisme

{{< include overview-consequentialism.md >}}

## Deontologi

{{< include overview-deonthology.md >}}

## Kontraktteori

{{< include overview-contract.md >}}

## Etik og copyleft

{{< include overview-copyleft-ethics.md >}}

# Analyse

{{< include analysis-intro.md >}}

## Copyleft for konsekventialister

{{< include analysis-consequentialism.md >}}

## Copyleft for deontologer

{{< include analysis-deontology.md >}}

## Copyleft for kontraktteoretikere

{{< include analysis-contract.md >}}

# Diskussion

{{< include discuss.md >}}

# Konklusion

{{< include conclusion.md >}}

# Referenceliste {.appendix}

\begingroup
\RaggedRight
::: {#refs}
:::
\endgroup

\appendix
