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<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
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<blockquote> |
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The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a |
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particular software program qualifies as free software. From time to |
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time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions |
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about subtle issues. See the <a href="#History">History section</a> |
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below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free |
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software. |
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</blockquote> |
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<p> |
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“Free software” means software that respects users' |
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freedom and community. Roughly, the users have the freedom to run, |
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copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. With these |
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freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the |
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program and what it does for them. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be |
When users don't control the program, the program controls the users. |
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true about a particular software program for it to be considered free |
The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users. |
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software. From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it. |
This nonfree or “proprietary” program is therefore an |
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If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see |
instrument of unjust power. |
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the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand |
Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. |
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the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” |
To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as |
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not as in “free beer”. |
in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, |
A program is free software if the program's users have the |
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study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it means that the |
four essential freedoms: |
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program's users have the four essential freedoms: |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<ul> |
<ul> |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by |
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which the program will be invoked from other programs. That |
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effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it |
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can replace the original when invoked by those other programs. This |
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sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's an suitable aliasing |
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facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an |
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alias for the modified version.</p> |
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<p> |
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Rules that “if you make your version available in this way, you |
Rules that “if you make your version available in this way, you |
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must make it available in that way also” can be acceptable too, |
must make it available in that way also” can be acceptable too, |
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on the same condition. An example of such an acceptable rule is one |
on the same condition. An example of such an acceptable rule is one |
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<h2 id="History">History</h2> |
<h2 id="History">History</h2> |
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<p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition to |
<p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition. Here is |
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clarify it. Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with |
the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was |
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links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review |
changed.</p> |
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them if they like.</p> |
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<ul> |
<ul> |
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</ul> |
</ul> |
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<p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other |
<p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are |
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changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all. |
other changes in this page that do not affect the definition as such. |
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Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on. If you would |
These changes are in other parts of the page. You can review the |
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like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on |
complete list of changes to the page through |
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our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&view=log">cvsweb |
the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&view=log">cvsweb |
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interface</a>.</p> |
interface</a>.</p> |
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</div> |
</div> |