bannedbook/fanqiang License: Understanding the GPL-3.0 Terms

The bannedbook/fanqiang repository is released under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPL-3.0), with the definitive license text located at fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3.

The bannedbook/fanqiang project is an open-source toolkit designed to circumvent internet censorship. Understanding the bannedbook/fanqiang license is essential for developers who wish to use, modify, or redistribute its code. The project adopts the GNU General Public License v3 (GPL-3.0), ensuring users retain the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software.

GPL-3.0 License Structure in the Repository

The GPL-3.0 license governs the entire codebase, with specific license files distributed across key directories to ensure compliance at the component level.

Primary License File

The definitive license text resides in fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3 at the repository root. This file contains the complete legal terms under which the software is distributed, explicitly stating the GPL-3.0 provisions.

Submodule-Specific Licensing

The repository maintains consistent licensing across submodules to prevent ambiguity:

• fqnews2/LICENSE — Replicates the GPL-3.0 terms for the fqnews2 submodule
• fqnews2/libcore/LICENSE — Provides additional license information for the core library component

These files collectively confirm that the entire codebase, including submodules, falls under the same copyleft terms.

Verifying the bannedbook/fanqiang License

You can programmatically confirm the license terms using command-line tools or incorporate proper attribution when creating derivative works.

Command-Line Verification

To inspect the license directly from a cloned repository:

# Display the GPL-3.0 license text

cat $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3

Adding License Headers to Derivative Works

When creating new files based on this codebase, include the standard GPL-3.0 header to maintain compliance:

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

#  fanqiang – Copyright (C) 2020‑2026 BannedBook

#  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it

#  under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the

#  Free Software Foundation, version 3 of the License.

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Key Rights and Obligations Under GPL-3.0

The GPL-3.0 license grants four essential freedoms:

1. Freedom to run the program for any purpose
2. Freedom to study how the program works and modify it
3. Freedom to redistribute copies to help others
4. Freedom to distribute modified versions

However, these freedoms come with the copyleft obligation: any distributed derivative work must also be licensed under GPL-3.0. This ensures the community retains these rights for all downstream users, preventing proprietary forks of the open-source code.

Summary

• The bannedbook/fanqiang license is GNU General Public License v3 (GPL-3.0)
• The primary license file is located at fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3
• The fqnews2/LICENSE and fqnews2/libcore/LICENSE files confirm consistent licensing across submodules
• Users must comply with copyleft requirements when distributing modified versions
• The license grants freedoms to run, study, share, and modify the software

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bannedbook/fanqiang open source?

Yes. The repository is fully open source under the GPL-3.0 license, which is certified by the Open Source Initiative (OSI). This means the source code is freely available for inspection, modification, and redistribution according to the license terms found in fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3.

Can I use code from bannedbook/fanqiang in my commercial project?

Yes, but with specific conditions. While GPL-3.0 permits commercial use, any distributed derivative work must also be licensed under GPL-3.0. This requires releasing your source code under the same license if you distribute the modified software to others, ensuring downstream recipients receive the same rights.

Where is the license file located in the repository?

The definitive license text is located at fqnews/LICENSE_GPLv3. Additional copies exist in fqnews2/LICENSE and fqnews2/libcore/LICENSE to ensure all components clearly state their licensing terms, though the root-level file serves as the primary legal reference.

Does the GPL-3.0 license apply to all submodules?

Yes. The presence of license files in fqnews2/ and fqnews2/libcore/ confirms that the GPL-3.0 terms apply consistently across the entire project. As implemented in bannedbook/fanqiang, no submodule is exempt from the copyleft requirements of the primary license.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}