🛡️ RISK BADGE: 🟠 HIGH (For Distribution)
Executive Summary: What is it?
The GPL v2 is the classic "Copyleft" license (Linux Kernel). It ensures that if you distribute the software, you must provide the source code. Unlike v3, it does not explicitly address "Tivoization" (locking hardware) or patent grants as aggressively.
CFO / Business Impact: What does it cost/risk?
Viral Asset Risk. Similar to GPL v3, if you link to this code and distribute the result, your proprietary code must also become GPL. It is generally unsafe for proprietary commercial software products distributed to customers.
Technical Reality: How does it work?
Triggered by distribution. Internal use is safe. SaaS use (without distributing the binary) is generally considered safe (the "ASP Loophole" which AGPL closed), making it slightly more permissive for cloud-hosted services than AGPL, but still risky for installed software.