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Is GNU GPL v3.0 or later compatible with GNU Lesser GPL v2.1?

No

GNU GPL v3.0 or later is strong copyleft; combining it into a GNU Lesser GPL v2.1 project would force the combined work to be GNU GPL v3.0 or later (not GNU Lesser GPL v2.1). If your project must remain GNU Lesser GPL v2.1, avoid GNU GPL v3.0 or later code.

About these licenses

LicenseFamilyPatent grant
GNU GPL v3.0 or later (GPL-3.0-or-later) strong-copyleft Yes
GNU Lesser GPL v2.1 (LGPL-2.1) weak-copyleft No (implicit at most)

GNU GPL v3.0 or later: GPL-3.0 with explicit upgrade path; users may pick GPL-3.0 or any later GPL.

GNU Lesser GPL v2.1: Library copyleft: dynamic linking permitted from non-LGPL code without triggering full copyleft.

What to do next

If you found this page because you're trying to figure out whether shipping a particular dependency is safe, the answer above is a starting point — not a substitute for reading the actual licenses or talking to a lawyer when stakes are high.

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