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The traditional expectation for contributions to a free software project are "inbound=outbound" [1] [2]. That is, if the project is under license X, contributions are made under license X.

Does this apply to a project released under any/all of the following licenses with no additional CLA?

  • LGPL v2-only
  • GPL v2-only
  • LGPL v2-or-later
  • GPL v2-or-later
  • LGPL v3-only
  • GPL v3-only
  • AGPL v3-only
  • LGPL v3-or-later
  • GPL v3-or-later
  • AGPL v3-or-later

I am not concerned with compatibility beyond that, just that in each case that contributions are "by default" the same GPL-variant as the original project.

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  • Nitpick: a CLA is a method to an end. The project could still be copyright of a single entity, for example if all contributors are their employees. Commented Oct 20, 2024 at 6:42

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Yes, submissions to a GPL codebase remain under the same GPL variant. This is specifically because of the copyleft mechanism. For example, from section 10 of the GPLv3 license text:

Each time you convey a covered work, the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensors, to run, modify and propagate that work, subject to this License.

This applies to all listed variants of the GPL (version 2/3, only/or-later clause, A/L/GPL variant). Specific modifications to the license terms are sometimes allowed (for example, by the "or later" clause), but "by default" the terms remain the same.

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