> Copyright law by default lets you make very little use of the software
That’s not what the statutory law says. Once you’ve legally obtained the software you’re free to use it, including specifically the right to make copies for backups and necessary purposes, like copying from disk to memory[1].
Note that the GPL doesn’t attempt to limit how you use the software. The copyleft only matters when you start distributing copies rather than using the one you already have, which is where copyright law matters.
That’s not what the statutory law says. Once you’ve legally obtained the software you’re free to use it, including specifically the right to make copies for backups and necessary purposes, like copying from disk to memory[1].
Note that the GPL doesn’t attempt to limit how you use the software. The copyleft only matters when you start distributing copies rather than using the one you already have, which is where copyright law matters.
[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/117