1 |
yavor |
1.95 |
<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" --> |
2 |
ineiev |
1.161 |
<!-- Parent-Version: 1.86 --> |
3 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
<title>What is free software? |
4 |
|
|
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
5 |
th_g |
1.160 |
<style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!-- |
6 |
|
|
.note { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; } |
7 |
|
|
@media (min-width: 48em) { |
8 |
|
|
.note { margin-top: .8em; } |
9 |
|
|
} |
10 |
|
|
--></style> |
11 |
mattl |
1.55 |
<meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" /> |
12 |
|
|
<meta http-equiv="Description" content="Since 1983, developing the free Unix style operating system GNU, so that computer users can have the freedom to share and improve the software they use." /> |
13 |
johnsu01 |
1.45 |
|
14 |
ineiev |
1.120 |
<!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" --> |
15 |
mattl |
1.52 |
<!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" --> |
16 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
17 |
brett |
1.107 |
<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
18 |
|
|
|
19 |
th_g |
1.160 |
<div class="article"> |
20 |
|
|
<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
21 |
|
|
|
22 |
rms |
1.151 |
<blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%"> |
23 |
|
|
Have a question about free software licensing not answered here? |
24 |
|
|
See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>, |
25 |
|
|
and if necessary contact the FSF Compliance Lab |
26 |
|
|
at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p> |
27 |
|
|
</blockquote> |
28 |
|
|
|
29 |
th_g |
1.160 |
<div class="comment"> |
30 |
ineiev |
1.112 |
<p> |
31 |
rms |
1.110 |
The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a |
32 |
|
|
particular software program qualifies as free software. From time to |
33 |
|
|
time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions |
34 |
|
|
about subtle issues. See the <a href="#History">History section</a> |
35 |
|
|
below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free |
36 |
|
|
software. |
37 |
ineiev |
1.112 |
</p> |
38 |
rms |
1.157 |
|
39 |
|
|
<p> |
40 |
|
|
“Open source” is something different: it has a very |
41 |
|
|
different philosophy based on different values. Its practical |
42 |
|
|
definition is different too, but nearly all open source programs are |
43 |
|
|
in fact free. We explain the |
44 |
ineiev |
1.158 |
difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
45 |
|
|
Why “Open Source” misses the point of Free Software</a>. |
46 |
rms |
1.157 |
</p> |
47 |
th_g |
1.160 |
</div> |
48 |
rms |
1.110 |
|
49 |
|
|
<p> |
50 |
|
|
“Free software” means software that respects users' |
51 |
rms |
1.127 |
freedom and community. Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the |
52 |
|
|
freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the |
53 |
|
|
software</b>. Thus, “free software” is a matter of |
54 |
|
|
liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of |
55 |
|
|
“free” as in “free speech,” not as in |
56 |
rms |
1.139 |
“free beer”. We sometimes call it “libre |
57 |
rms |
1.148 |
software,” borrowing the French or Spanish word for |
58 |
|
|
“free” as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software |
59 |
|
|
is gratis. |
60 |
rms |
1.110 |
</p> |
61 |
|
|
|
62 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
63 |
rms |
1.127 |
We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them. With |
64 |
|
|
these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control |
65 |
|
|
the program and what it does for them. When users don't control the |
66 |
|
|
program, we call it a “nonfree” or |
67 |
|
|
“proprietary” program. The nonfree program controls the |
68 |
rms |
1.128 |
users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the |
69 |
rms |
1.127 |
program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html"> |
70 |
|
|
an instrument of unjust power</a>. |
71 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
72 |
|
|
|
73 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4> The four essential freedoms</h4> |
74 |
|
|
|
75 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
76 |
rms |
1.110 |
A program is free software if the program's users have the |
77 |
th_g |
1.159 |
four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a> |
78 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
79 |
webcvs |
1.1 |
|
80 |
th_g |
1.160 |
<ul class="important"> |
81 |
rms |
1.135 |
<li>The freedom to run the program as you wish, |
82 |
|
|
for any purpose (freedom 0).</li> |
83 |
rms |
1.105 |
<li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it |
84 |
|
|
does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source |
85 |
|
|
code is a precondition for this. |
86 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</li> |
87 |
rms |
1.157 |
<li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others |
88 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
(freedom 2). |
89 |
|
|
</li> |
90 |
rms |
1.90 |
<li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions |
91 |
|
|
to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole |
92 |
|
|
community a chance to benefit from your changes. |
93 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
Access to the source code is a precondition for this. |
94 |
|
|
</li> |
95 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
</ul> |
96 |
webcvs |
1.1 |
|
97 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
98 |
rms |
1.125 |
A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these |
99 |
|
|
freedoms. Otherwise, it is nonfree. While we can distinguish various |
100 |
|
|
nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of |
101 |
|
|
being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p> |
102 |
|
|
|
103 |
rms |
1.141 |
<p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code |
104 |
|
|
we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of. For instance, |
105 |
|
|
consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to |
106 |
|
|
handle some cases. If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that |
107 |
|
|
implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B |
108 |
|
|
are free. However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B, |
109 |
rms |
1.148 |
only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p> |
110 |
rms |
1.141 |
|
111 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<p> |
112 |
|
|
“Free software” does not mean “noncommercial”. A free |
113 |
|
|
program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, |
114 |
|
|
and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software |
115 |
|
|
is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important. |
116 |
|
|
You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have |
117 |
|
|
obtained copies at no charge. But regardless of how you got your copies, |
118 |
|
|
you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to |
119 |
|
|
<a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>. |
120 |
|
|
</p> |
121 |
|
|
|
122 |
rms |
1.163 |
<p> |
123 |
|
|
A free program must offer the four freedoms to any user that obtains a |
124 |
|
|
copy of the software, provided the user has complied thus far with the |
125 |
|
|
conditions of the free license covering the software. Putting some of |
126 |
|
|
the freedoms off limits to some users, or requiring that users pay, in |
127 |
|
|
money or in kind, to exercise them, is tantamount to not granting the |
128 |
|
|
freedoms in question, and thus renders the program nonfree. |
129 |
|
|
</p> |
130 |
|
|
|
131 |
rms |
1.165 |
<h3>Clarifying the line at various points</h3> |
132 |
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
<p>In the rest of this article we expain more precisely how far the |
134 |
|
|
various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a |
135 |
|
|
program to be free.</p> |
136 |
rms |
1.125 |
|
137 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4> |
138 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
|
139 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
140 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person |
141 |
|
|
or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of |
142 |
|
|
overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it |
143 |
|
|
with the developer or any other specific entity. In this freedom, it is |
144 |
|
|
the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em> |
145 |
rms |
1.88 |
purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes, |
146 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it |
147 |
|
|
for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her. |
148 |
rms |
1.46 |
</p> |
149 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
|
150 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
151 |
rms |
1.134 |
The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not |
152 |
rms |
1.153 |
forbidden or stopped from making it run. This has nothing to do with what |
153 |
|
|
functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of |
154 |
|
|
functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any |
155 |
|
|
particular computing activity.</p> |
156 |
rms |
1.134 |
|
157 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4> |
158 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
|
159 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
160 |
rms |
1.88 |
In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the |
161 |
rms |
1.165 |
freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you need to have |
162 |
rms |
1.88 |
access to the source code of the program. Therefore, accessibility of |
163 |
rms |
1.92 |
source code is a necessary condition for free software. Obfuscated |
164 |
|
|
“source code” is not real source code and does not count |
165 |
|
|
as source code. |
166 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
167 |
|
|
|
168 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
169 |
rms |
1.80 |
Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of |
170 |
|
|
the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
171 |
rms |
1.105 |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours — a |
172 |
|
|
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown”, |
173 |
|
|
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
174 |
rms |
1.137 |
boot” — freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a |
175 |
|
|
practical reality. These binaries are not free |
176 |
|
|
software even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
177 |
rms |
1.80 |
</p> |
178 |
|
|
|
179 |
|
|
<p> |
180 |
rms |
1.74 |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free |
181 |
|
|
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
182 |
rms |
1.88 |
cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module — for instance, if it |
183 |
|
|
requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add — then the |
184 |
rms |
1.74 |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
185 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
186 |
|
|
|
187 |
novalis |
1.40 |
<p> |
188 |
th_g |
1.149 |
Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter. |
189 |
|
|
If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that |
190 |
|
|
someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free. |
191 |
|
|
</p> |
192 |
|
|
|
193 |
|
|
<h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4> |
194 |
|
|
|
195 |
|
|
<p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to |
196 |
|
|
redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either |
197 |
|
|
gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to |
198 |
|
|
<a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>. Being free to do these |
199 |
|
|
things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay |
200 |
|
|
for permission to do so. |
201 |
|
|
</p> |
202 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
<p> |
204 |
|
|
You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them |
205 |
|
|
privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they |
206 |
|
|
exist. If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to |
207 |
|
|
notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way. |
208 |
|
|
</p> |
209 |
|
|
|
210 |
|
|
<p> |
211 |
rms |
1.93 |
Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions |
212 |
rms |
1.89 |
as free software. A free license may also permit other ways of |
213 |
|
|
releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be |
214 |
|
|
a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license. However, a |
215 |
|
|
license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify |
216 |
|
|
as a free license. |
217 |
|
|
</p> |
218 |
|
|
|
219 |
|
|
<p> |
220 |
th_g |
1.149 |
The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable |
221 |
|
|
forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and |
222 |
|
|
unmodified versions. (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary |
223 |
|
|
for conveniently installable free operating systems.) It is OK if there |
224 |
|
|
is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program |
225 |
|
|
(since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the |
226 |
|
|
freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to |
227 |
|
|
make them. |
228 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
229 |
|
|
|
230 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Copyleft</h4> |
231 |
|
|
|
232 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
233 |
th_g |
1.149 |
Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free |
234 |
webcvs |
1.1 |
software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central |
235 |
rms |
1.138 |
freedoms. For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> |
236 |
|
|
(very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program, |
237 |
|
|
you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms. |
238 |
|
|
This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it |
239 |
|
|
protects them. |
240 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
241 |
|
|
|
242 |
|
|
<p> |
243 |
rms |
1.138 |
In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms |
244 |
|
|
legally for everyone. We believe there are important reasons why |
245 |
rms |
1.130 |
<a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use |
246 |
|
|
copyleft</a>. However, |
247 |
|
|
<a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware"> |
248 |
|
|
noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical |
249 |
|
|
too. See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free |
250 |
|
|
Software</a> for a description of how “free software,” |
251 |
|
|
“copylefted software” and other categories of software |
252 |
|
|
relate to each other. |
253 |
|
|
</p> |
254 |
|
|
|
255 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4> |
256 |
rms |
1.74 |
|
257 |
|
|
<p> |
258 |
th_g |
1.149 |
Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, |
259 |
rms |
1.98 |
if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified |
260 |
|
|
versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately. |
261 |
|
|
Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the |
262 |
|
|
name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your |
263 |
|
|
modifications as yours. As long as these requirements are not so |
264 |
|
|
burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your |
265 |
|
|
changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to |
266 |
|
|
the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more. |
267 |
|
|
</p> |
268 |
|
|
|
269 |
|
|
<p> |
270 |
|
|
Rules that “if you make your version available in this way, you |
271 |
|
|
must make it available in that way also” can be acceptable too, |
272 |
|
|
on the same condition. An example of such an acceptable rule is one |
273 |
|
|
saying that if you have distributed a |
274 |
|
|
modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you |
275 |
|
|
must send one. (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of |
276 |
|
|
whether to distribute your version at all.) Rules that require release |
277 |
|
|
of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use |
278 |
|
|
are also acceptable. |
279 |
rms |
1.39 |
</p> |
280 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
|
281 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
282 |
rms |
1.121 |
A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by |
283 |
|
|
which the program will be invoked from other programs. That |
284 |
|
|
effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it |
285 |
|
|
can replace the original when invoked by those other programs. This |
286 |
|
|
sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing |
287 |
|
|
facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an |
288 |
|
|
alias for the modified version.</p> |
289 |
|
|
|
290 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Export regulations</h4> |
291 |
|
|
|
292 |
rms |
1.121 |
<p> |
293 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a> |
294 |
|
|
and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of |
295 |
|
|
programs internationally. Software developers do not have the power to |
296 |
|
|
eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do |
297 |
|
|
is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program. In this |
298 |
|
|
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
299 |
rms |
1.74 |
jurisdictions of these governments. Thus, free software licenses |
300 |
rms |
1.122 |
must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a |
301 |
|
|
condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms. |
302 |
|
|
</p> |
303 |
|
|
|
304 |
|
|
<p> |
305 |
|
|
Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making |
306 |
|
|
them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does |
307 |
|
|
not restrict users. If an export regulation is actually trivial for |
308 |
|
|
free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual |
309 |
|
|
problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in |
310 |
|
|
export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the |
311 |
|
|
software nonfree. |
312 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
313 |
|
|
|
314 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Legal considerations</h4> |
315 |
|
|
|
316 |
|
|
<p> |
317 |
|
|
In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and |
318 |
|
|
irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the |
319 |
|
|
software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add |
320 |
|
|
restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give |
321 |
|
|
cause, the software is not free. |
322 |
|
|
</p> |
323 |
|
|
|
324 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
325 |
rms |
1.131 |
A free license may not require compliance with the license of a |
326 |
|
|
nonfree program. Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to |
327 |
|
|
comply with the licenses of “all the programs you use”, in |
328 |
|
|
the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require |
329 |
|
|
compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the |
330 |
|
|
license nonfree. |
331 |
|
|
</p> |
332 |
|
|
|
333 |
|
|
<p> |
334 |
rms |
1.129 |
It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's |
335 |
|
|
law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both. |
336 |
|
|
</p> |
337 |
|
|
|
338 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Contract-based licenses</h4> |
339 |
|
|
|
340 |
rms |
1.129 |
<p> |
341 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits |
342 |
|
|
on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright. If a |
343 |
|
|
copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it |
344 |
|
|
is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated |
345 |
|
|
(though this does happen occasionally). However, some free software |
346 |
|
|
licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger |
347 |
|
|
range of possible restrictions. That means there are many possible ways |
348 |
rms |
1.88 |
such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree. |
349 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
350 |
|
|
|
351 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
352 |
rms |
1.41 |
We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen. If a |
353 |
|
|
contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that |
354 |
|
|
copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as |
355 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude |
356 |
rms |
1.88 |
it is nonfree. |
357 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
358 |
|
|
|
359 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4> |
360 |
|
|
|
361 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
362 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms |
363 |
karl |
1.91 |
like “give away” or “for free,” because those terms imply that |
364 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
the issue is about price, not freedom. Some common terms such |
365 |
karl |
1.91 |
as “piracy” embody opinions we hope you won't endorse. See |
366 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
<a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that |
367 |
|
|
are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms. We also have |
368 |
rms |
1.88 |
a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of |
369 |
karl |
1.91 |
“free software”</a> into various languages. |
370 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
371 |
|
|
|
372 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4> |
373 |
|
|
|
374 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
375 |
webcvs |
1.2 |
Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software |
376 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
definition require careful thought for their interpretation. To decide |
377 |
|
|
whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license, |
378 |
|
|
we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their |
379 |
|
|
spirit as well as the precise words. If a license includes unconscionable |
380 |
|
|
restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue |
381 |
|
|
in these criteria. Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue |
382 |
|
|
that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer, |
383 |
|
|
before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable. When we reach |
384 |
|
|
a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make |
385 |
|
|
it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify. |
386 |
|
|
</p> |
387 |
|
|
|
388 |
th_g |
1.149 |
<h4>Get help with free licenses</h4> |
389 |
|
|
|
390 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
<p> |
391 |
|
|
If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free |
392 |
|
|
software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list |
393 |
|
|
of licenses</a>. If the license you are concerned with is not |
394 |
|
|
listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at |
395 |
|
|
<a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org"><licensing@gnu.org></a>. |
396 |
|
|
</p> |
397 |
|
|
|
398 |
|
|
<p> |
399 |
rms |
1.88 |
If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the |
400 |
|
|
Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The |
401 |
|
|
proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work |
402 |
|
|
for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you |
403 |
|
|
find an existing free software license that meets your needs. |
404 |
novalis |
1.29 |
</p> |
405 |
webcvs |
1.2 |
|
406 |
novalis |
1.29 |
<p> |
407 |
|
|
If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our |
408 |
rms |
1.88 |
help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license |
409 |
novalis |
1.29 |
and avoid various practical problems. |
410 |
|
|
</p> |
411 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
|
412 |
dora |
1.117 |
<h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3> |
413 |
rms |
1.57 |
|
414 |
|
|
<p> |
415 |
yavor |
1.61 |
<a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>, |
416 |
|
|
for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the |
417 |
|
|
manuals are in effect part of the software. |
418 |
rms |
1.57 |
</p> |
419 |
|
|
|
420 |
|
|
<p> |
421 |
|
|
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
422 |
yavor |
1.61 |
practical use — that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
423 |
rms |
1.57 |
such as educational works and reference |
424 |
jrasata |
1.103 |
works. <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
425 |
rms |
1.57 |
example. |
426 |
|
|
</p> |
427 |
|
|
|
428 |
|
|
<p> |
429 |
|
|
Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software |
430 |
|
|
has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/"> |
431 |
|
|
free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works. |
432 |
|
|
</p> |
433 |
|
|
|
434 |
dora |
1.117 |
<h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3> |
435 |
webcvs |
1.1 |
|
436 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
<p> |
437 |
jrasata |
1.143 |
Another group uses the term “open source” to mean |
438 |
joeko |
1.109 |
something close (but not identical) to “free software”. We |
439 |
karl |
1.91 |
prefer the term “free software” because, once you have heard that |
440 |
yavor |
1.61 |
it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom. The |
441 |
karl |
1.91 |
word “open” <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
442 |
yavor |
1.61 |
never refers to freedom</a>. |
443 |
sinuhe |
1.48 |
</p> |
444 |
th_g |
1.160 |
</div> |
445 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
446 |
dora |
1.117 |
<h3 id="History">History</h3> |
447 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
448 |
rms |
1.110 |
<p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition. Here is |
449 |
rms |
1.121 |
the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what |
450 |
|
|
was changed.</p> |
451 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
452 |
|
|
<ul> |
453 |
|
|
|
454 |
rms |
1.163 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.162&r2=1.163">Version |
455 |
|
|
1.163</a>: Clarify that the four freedoms apply to any and all users, |
456 |
|
|
and that requiring users to pay to exercise some of these freedoms is |
457 |
|
|
a way of denying them.</li> |
458 |
|
|
|
459 |
rms |
1.153 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.152&r2=1.153">Version |
460 |
|
|
1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops |
461 |
|
|
you from making it run.</li> |
462 |
|
|
|
463 |
rms |
1.141 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.140&r2=1.141">Version |
464 |
|
|
1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li> |
465 |
|
|
|
466 |
rms |
1.135 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.134&r2=1.135">Version |
467 |
|
|
1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program |
468 |
|
|
as you wish.</li> |
469 |
|
|
|
470 |
rms |
1.134 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.133&r2=1.134">Version |
471 |
|
|
1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li> |
472 |
|
|
|
473 |
rms |
1.131 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.130&r2=1.131">Version |
474 |
|
|
1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license |
475 |
|
|
of another program.</li> |
476 |
|
|
|
477 |
rms |
1.129 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.128&r2=1.129">Version |
478 |
|
|
1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum |
479 |
|
|
specifications are allowed. (This was always our policy.)</li> |
480 |
|
|
|
481 |
rms |
1.122 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.121&r2=1.122">Version |
482 |
|
|
1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the |
483 |
|
|
requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li> |
484 |
|
|
|
485 |
rms |
1.126 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.117&r2=1.118">Version |
486 |
|
|
1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify, |
487 |
|
|
not on what modifications you have made. And modifications are not limited |
488 |
|
|
to “improvements”</li> |
489 |
|
|
|
490 |
rms |
1.111 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.110&r2=1.111">Version |
491 |
|
|
1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only |
492 |
|
|
retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable. The copyright |
493 |
|
|
holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the |
494 |
|
|
work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li> |
495 |
|
|
|
496 |
jturner |
1.108 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.104&r2=1.105">Version |
497 |
|
|
1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point |
498 |
rms |
1.105 |
(already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified |
499 |
|
|
version for your computing.</li> |
500 |
|
|
|
501 |
rms |
1.92 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.91&r2=1.92">Version |
502 |
|
|
1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li> |
503 |
|
|
|
504 |
rms |
1.90 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.89&r2=1.90">Version |
505 |
|
|
1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies |
506 |
|
|
of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate |
507 |
|
|
in someone else's development project.</li> |
508 |
|
|
|
509 |
rms |
1.89 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.88&r2=1.89">Version |
510 |
|
|
1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as |
511 |
|
|
free software.</li> |
512 |
|
|
|
513 |
rms |
1.80 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.79&r2=1.80">Version |
514 |
|
|
1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical; |
515 |
|
|
i.e., no tivoization.</li> |
516 |
|
|
|
517 |
brett |
1.77 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.76&r2=1.77">Version |
518 |
|
|
1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are |
519 |
|
|
unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete |
520 |
|
|
replacement.</li> |
521 |
|
|
|
522 |
rms |
1.74 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.73&r2=1.74">Version |
523 |
rms |
1.75 |
1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated |
524 |
rms |
1.74 |
in some places but not reflected everywhere: |
525 |
|
|
<ul> |
526 |
|
|
<li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can |
527 |
|
|
substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release. |
528 |
|
|
Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li> |
529 |
|
|
<li>The right to merge in existing modules |
530 |
|
|
refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li> |
531 |
|
|
<li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li> |
532 |
rms |
1.75 |
<li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li> |
533 |
rms |
1.74 |
</ul> |
534 |
|
|
</li> |
535 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
536 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
537 |
|
|
1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |
538 |
|
|
|
539 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.45&r2=1.46">Version |
540 |
|
|
1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run |
541 |
|
|
the program for any purpose.</li> |
542 |
|
|
|
543 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.40&r2=1.41">Version |
544 |
|
|
1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li> |
545 |
|
|
|
546 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.39&r2=1.40">Version |
547 |
|
|
1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other |
548 |
brett |
1.73 |
available free software to create your modifications.</li> |
549 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
550 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.38&r2=1.39">Version |
551 |
|
|
1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to |
552 |
|
|
provide source for versions of the software you put into public |
553 |
brett |
1.73 |
use.</li> |
554 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
555 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.30&r2=1.31">Version |
556 |
|
|
1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to |
557 |
|
|
identify yourself as the author of modifications. Other minor |
558 |
|
|
clarifications throughout the text.</li> |
559 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.22&r2=1.23">Version |
561 |
|
|
1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based |
562 |
|
|
licenses.</li> |
563 |
|
|
|
564 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.15&r2=1.16">Version |
565 |
|
|
1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li> |
566 |
|
|
|
567 |
|
|
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.10&r2=1.11">Version |
568 |
|
|
1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of |
569 |
rms |
1.148 |
versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li> |
570 |
brett |
1.72 |
|
571 |
|
|
</ul> |
572 |
|
|
|
573 |
rms |
1.110 |
<p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are |
574 |
rms |
1.126 |
other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its |
575 |
|
|
interpretations. For instance, the list does not include changes in |
576 |
|
|
asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page. |
577 |
|
|
You can review the complete list of changes to the page through |
578 |
rms |
1.110 |
the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&view=log">cvsweb |
579 |
brett |
1.72 |
interface</a>.</p> |
580 |
|
|
|
581 |
th_g |
1.159 |
<h3 style="font-size:1em">Footnote</h3> |
582 |
|
|
<ol> |
583 |
|
|
<li id="f1">The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around |
584 |
|
|
1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized that |
585 |
|
|
the freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned explicitly. |
586 |
|
|
It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should |
587 |
|
|
precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom 0.</li> |
588 |
|
|
</ol> |
589 |
alex_muntada |
1.32 |
|
590 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
</div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above --> |
591 |
mattl |
1.52 |
<!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" --> |
592 |
|
|
<div id="footer"> |
593 |
ineiev |
1.132 |
<div class="unprintable"> |
594 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
595 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to |
596 |
yavor |
1.82 |
<a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><gnu@gnu.org></a>. |
597 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> |
598 |
|
|
the FSF. Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent |
599 |
|
|
to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>.</p> |
600 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
|
<p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph, |
602 |
|
|
replace it with the translation of these two: |
603 |
|
|
|
604 |
|
|
We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality |
605 |
|
|
translations. However, we are not exempt from imperfection. |
606 |
|
|
Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard |
607 |
|
|
to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org"> |
608 |
|
|
<web-translators@gnu.org></a>.</p> |
609 |
|
|
|
610 |
|
|
<p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of |
611 |
|
|
our web pages, see <a |
612 |
|
|
href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations |
613 |
|
|
README</a>. --> |
614 |
|
|
Please see the <a |
615 |
|
|
href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations |
616 |
|
|
README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations |
617 |
|
|
of this article.</p> |
618 |
ineiev |
1.132 |
</div> |
619 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
|
620 |
|
|
<!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to |
621 |
|
|
files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should |
622 |
gnun |
1.142 |
be under CC BY-ND 4.0. Please do NOT change or remove this |
623 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first. |
624 |
|
|
Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the |
625 |
|
|
document. For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the |
626 |
|
|
document was modified, or published. |
627 |
|
|
|
628 |
|
|
If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too. |
629 |
|
|
Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying |
630 |
|
|
years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable |
631 |
|
|
year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including |
632 |
|
|
being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system). |
633 |
|
|
|
634 |
|
|
There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers |
635 |
|
|
Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. --> |
636 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
637 |
gnun |
1.164 |
<p>Copyright © 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2019 |
638 |
ineiev |
1.123 |
Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p> |
639 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
640 |
jturner |
1.104 |
<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" |
641 |
gnun |
1.142 |
href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative |
642 |
|
|
Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p> |
643 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
|
644 |
ineiev |
1.119 |
<!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" --> |
645 |
|
|
|
646 |
ineiev |
1.133 |
<p class="unprintable">Updated: |
647 |
paulv |
1.3 |
<!-- timestamp start --> |
648 |
rms |
1.165 |
$Date: 2019/03/20 10:56:16 $ |
649 |
paulv |
1.3 |
<!-- timestamp end --> |
650 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
</p> |
651 |
|
|
</div> |
652 |
ineiev |
1.162 |
</div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include --> |
653 |
wkotwica |
1.24 |
</body> |
654 |
|
|
</html> |