Google uses GPL-licensed software in their products, entire projects are checked into the monorepo (only one version of any software at a time, though).
If you're a Googler working on a personal project and you accept that Google owns it (controversial), then you would just use GPL software the normal way any developer would. If you're a Googler working on a work project, then you compile and link it into your application. If you wanted to modify GPL software, you'd sign the CLA for the project and send them patches.
I did not see anything that would suggest Google was not complying with GPL. We were advised to not make new projects that used GPL, as copyleft and the license are challenging to understand compared to the relatively straightfowrad BSD, MIT, and Apache licenses.
Does Google make their GPL modifications available?
If so, my argument does not apply to Google, but may apply to other big tech companies. I mentioned Google only as an example--a place holder for any big tech company.
It seems any company that hosts modified GPL code can't stop their employees from just walking off with it and selling it.
> It seems any company that hosts modified GPL code can't stop their employees from just walking off with it and selling it.
Sure they can, just don't distribute the code. The company holds the copyright to all code the employee wrote, if the employee took the code, they'd be violating their employer's copyright.
If you're a Googler working on a personal project and you accept that Google owns it (controversial), then you would just use GPL software the normal way any developer would. If you're a Googler working on a work project, then you compile and link it into your application. If you wanted to modify GPL software, you'd sign the CLA for the project and send them patches.
I did not see anything that would suggest Google was not complying with GPL. We were advised to not make new projects that used GPL, as copyleft and the license are challenging to understand compared to the relatively straightfowrad BSD, MIT, and Apache licenses.