41 |
(freedom 2). |
(freedom 2). |
42 |
</li> |
</li> |
43 |
<li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements |
<li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements |
44 |
|
(and modified versions in general) |
45 |
to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). |
to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). |
46 |
Access to the source code is a precondition for this. |
Access to the source code is a precondition for this. |
47 |
</li> |
</li> |
93 |
</p> |
</p> |
94 |
|
|
95 |
<p> |
<p> |
96 |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free |
97 |
free subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
98 |
cannot merge in an existing module, such as if it requires you to be the |
cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it |
99 |
copyright holder of any code you add, then the license is too restrictive |
requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add, then the |
100 |
to qualify as free. |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
101 |
</p> |
</p> |
102 |
|
|
103 |
<p> |
<p> |
104 |
In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as |
In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as |
105 |
long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the |
long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the |
106 |
power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give cause, |
power to revoke the license, or replace it with a different license |
107 |
the software is not free. |
(since this implies revoking the old license), |
108 |
|
without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the software is not |
109 |
|
free. |
110 |
</p> |
</p> |
111 |
|
|
112 |
<p> |
<p> |
126 |
</p> |
</p> |
127 |
|
|
128 |
<p> |
<p> |
129 |
|
Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter. |
130 |
|
If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that |
131 |
|
someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom. |
132 |
|
</p> |
133 |
|
|
134 |
|
<p> |
135 |
<q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q> A free |
<q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q> A free |
136 |
program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, |
program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, |
137 |
and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software |
and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software |
176 |
eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do |
eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do |
177 |
is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program. In this |
is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program. In this |
178 |
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
179 |
jurisdictions of these governments. |
jurisdictions of these governments. Thus, free software licenses |
180 |
|
must not require obedience to any export regulations a condition of |
181 |
|
any of the essential freedoms. |
182 |
</p> |
</p> |
183 |
|
|
184 |
<p> |
<p> |
289 |
|
|
290 |
<ul> |
<ul> |
291 |
|
|
292 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.71&r2=1.72">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.73&r2=1.74">Version |
293 |
1.72</a>: Add this History section.</li> |
1.74</a>: Three clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated |
294 |
|
in some places but not reflected everywhere: |
295 |
|
<ul> |
296 |
|
<li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can |
297 |
|
substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release. |
298 |
|
Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li> |
299 |
|
<li>The right to merge in existing modules |
300 |
|
refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li> |
301 |
|
<li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li> |
302 |
|
</ul> |
303 |
|
</li> |
304 |
|
|
305 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
306 |
1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |
1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |