---
title: The Pricey GPL Thought Experiment
date: 2009-11-17T01:17:37+00:00
modified: 2009-11-17T01:17:37+00:00
image:: https://kaspars.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/pricey-gpl-wordpress-plugin1.png
permalink: https://kaspars.net/blog/pricey-gpl-thought-experiment
post_type: post
author:
  name: Kaspars
  avatar: https://reverse.kaspars.net/gravatar/avatar/92bfcd3a8c3a21a033a6484d32c25a40b113ec6891f674336081513d5c98ef76?s=96&d=mm&r=g
category:
  - WordPress
---

# The Pricey GPL Thought Experiment

Let’s create the most expensive GPL licensed WordPress plugin and call it the **Pricey GPL**. It is offered as a free download from WordPress.org and by default it displays a random paragraph from [the most downloaded book at Project Gutenberg](http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top#books-last1) in the WordPress dashboard. Of course, there is a widget available, too.

However, to enjoy the *real* value of the *Pricey GPL*, you have to purchase a monthly subscription to the *PriceyGPL.com* service (an API key) which displays a random paragraph from [one of the GPL licenses](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/).

#### Questions

1. Can software released under GPL be pricey or does it have to be a service or a subscription tied to it which can be pricey?
2. How are these two ways of pricing different from the users’ viewpoint whose rights the GPL is protecting?