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> But that doesn't mean someone is ethically wrong for choosing to accept a gift freely given without giving one in return

Many cultures do in fact work that way. And while modern American culture views the idea of taking everything you can and only giving back what you are contractually forced to in a more positive light, the term freeloader still has negative connotations.

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If you're a maintainer and reciprocity is an important value to you, and you think that people who don't give back are freeloading, then why did you specifically choose not to use a GPL license for your project?

Your point about the gap between the words of a license and an ethical expectation is well taken. But why put that gap there at all? It's going out of your way to make sure that people have the choice to screw you.

> American culture views the idea of taking everything you can and only giving back what you are contractually forced to in a more positive light

That’s not a thing in American culture. Maybe you are referring the low trust culture of international commerce, which just happens to be centered in the US.

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