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16    
17  <h2>What is free software?</h2>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
18    
19    <div class="article">
20  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
21    
22  <blockquote>  <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    <div class="comment">
30  <p>  <p>
31  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
32  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
# Line 23  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="# Line 35  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#
35  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
36  software.  software.
37  </p>  </p>
 </blockquote>  
38    
39  <p>  <p>
40  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'  &ldquo;Open source&rdquo; is something different: it has a very
41  freedom and community.  Roughly, <b>the users have the freedom to run,  different philosophy based on different values.  Its practical
42  copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software</b>.  With these  definition is different too, but nearly all open source programs are
43  freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the  in fact free.  We explain the
44  program and what it does for them.  difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
45    Why &ldquo;Open Source&rdquo; misses the point of Free Software</a>.
46  </p>  </p>
47    </div>
48    
49  <p>  <p>
50  When users don't control the program, the program controls the users.  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
51  The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users.  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
52  This nonfree or &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program is therefore an  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
53  instrument of unjust power.  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
54    liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
55    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
56    &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
57    software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
58    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
59    is gratis.
60  </p>  </p>
61    
62  <p>  <p>
63  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
64  To understand the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as  these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
65  in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
66    program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
67    &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
68    users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
69    program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
70    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
71  </p>  </p>
72    
73    <h4> The four essential freedoms</h4>
74    
75  <p>  <p>
76  A program is free software if the program's users have the  A program is free software if the program's users have the
77  four essential freedoms:  four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a>
78  </p>  </p>
79    
80  <ul>  <ul class="important">
81    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
82          for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
83    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it    <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        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
85        code is a precondition for this.        code is a precondition for this.
86    </li>    </li>
87    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others
88        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
89    </li>    </li>
90    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
# Line 68  four essential freedoms: Line 95  four essential freedoms:
95  </ul>  </ul>
96    
97  <p>  <p>
98  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
99  you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
100  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
101  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these  being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
102  things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay  
103  for permission to do so.  <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    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
110    
111    <p>
112    &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.
113    On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use,
114    commercial development, and commercial distribution.  This policy is
115    of fundamental importance&mdash;without this, free software could not
116    achieve its aims.
117  </p>  </p>
118    
119  <p>  <p>
120  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  We want to invite everyone to use the GNU system, including businesses
121  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  and their workers.  That requires allowing commercial use.  We hope
122  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to  that free replacement programs will supplant comparable proprietary
123  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  programs, but they can't do that if businesses are forbidden to use
124    them.  We want commercial products that contain software to include
125    the GNU system, and that would constitute commercial distribution for
126    a price.  Commercial development of free software is no longer
127    unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Paid,
128    professional support for free software fills an important need.
129    </p>
130    
131    <p>
132    Thus, to exclude commercial use, commercial development or commercial
133    distribution would hobble the free software community and obstruct its
134    path to success.  We must conclude that a program licensed with such
135    restrictions does not qualify as free software.
136    </p>
137    
138    <p>
139    A free program must offer the four freedoms to any would-be user that
140    obtains a copy of the software, who has complied thus far with the
141    conditions of the free license covering the software in any previous
142    distribution of it.  Putting some of the freedoms off limits to some
143    users, or requiring that users pay, in money or in kind, to exercise
144    them, is tantamount to not granting the freedoms in question, and thus
145    renders the program nonfree.
146  </p>  </p>
147    
148  <p>  <p>
149    You may have paid money to get copies of a free program, or you may
150    have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your
151    copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the software,
152    even to <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
153    </p>
154    
155    <h3>Clarifying the line at various points</h3>
156    
157    <p>In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far the
158    various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a
159    program to be free.</p>
160    
161    <h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
162    
163    <p>
164  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
165  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
166  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
# Line 95  for her purposes, but you are not entitl Line 172  for her purposes, but you are not entitl
172  </p>  </p>
173    
174  <p>  <p>
175  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
176  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and  forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
177  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary  functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
178  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there  functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
179  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program  particular computing activity.</p>
180  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the  
181  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to  <p>For example, if the code arbitrarily rejects certain meaningful
182  make them.  inputs&mdash;or even fails unconditionally&mdash;that may make the
183  </p>  program less useful, perhaps even totally useless, but it does not
184    deny users the freedom to run the program, so it does not conflict
185    with freedom 0.  If the program is free, the users can overcome the
186    loss of usefulness, because freedoms 1 and 3 permit users and
187    communities to make and distribute modified versions without the
188    arbitrary nuisance code.</p>
189    
190    <p>&ldquo;As you wish&rdquo; includes, optonally, &ldquo;not at
191    all&rdquo; if that is what you wish.  So there is no need for a
192    separate &ldquo;freedom not to run a program.&rdquo;<p>
193    
194    <h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
195    
196  <p>  <p>
197  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
198  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you need to have
199  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
200  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
201  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
# Line 120  the original.  If the program is deliver Line 208  the original.  If the program is deliver
208  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
209  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
210  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
211  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
212  than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,  practical reality.  These binaries are not free
213  these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are  software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
 compiled from is free.  
214  </p>  </p>
215    
216  <p>  <p>
# Line 135  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 222  license is too restrictive to qualify as
222  </p>  </p>
223    
224  <p>  <p>
225    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
226    If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
227    someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
228    </p>
229    
230    <p>
231    One special case of freedom 1 is to delete the program's code so it
232    returns after doing nothing, or make it invoke some other program.
233    Thus, freedom 1 includes the &ldquo;freedom to delete the program.&rdquo;
234    </p>
235    
236    <h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4>
237    
238    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
239    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
240    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
241    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
242    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
243    for permission to do so.
244    </p>
245    
246    <p>
247    You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
248    privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
249    exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
250    notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
251    </p>
252    
253    <p>
254  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
255  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
256  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
# Line 144  as a free license. Line 260  as a free license.
260  </p>  </p>
261    
262  <p>  <p>
263  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
264  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
265  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
266  restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
267  cause, the software is not free.  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
268    (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
269    freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
270    make them.
271  </p>  </p>
272    
273    <h4>Copyleft</h4>
274    
275  <p>  <p>
276  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
277  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
278  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
279  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
280  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
281  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
282    protects them.
283  </p>  </p>
284    
285  <p>  <p>
286  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
287  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
288  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
289  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  copyleft</a>.  However,
290  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
291  obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
292  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
293  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
294    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
295    relate to each other.
296  </p>  </p>
297    
298  <p>  <h4>Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
 Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.  
 If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that  
 someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.  
 </p>  
299    
300  <p>  <p>
301  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
302  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
303  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
304  Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the  Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
# Line 190  the program, so you won't have trouble m Line 310  the program, so you won't have trouble m
310  </p>  </p>
311    
312  <p>  <p>
 A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by  
 which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That  
 effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it  
 can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This  
 sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing  
 facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an  
 alias for the modified version.</p>  
   
 <p>  
313  Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you  Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
314  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
315  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
# Line 211  are also acceptable. Line 322  are also acceptable.
322  </p>  </p>
323    
324  <p>  <p>
325  In the GNU project, we use  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
326  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
327  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
328  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
329  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
330  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
331  but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically  alias for the modified version.</p>
332  ethical. (See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software relate to each other.)  
333  </p>  <h4>Export regulations</h4>
334    
335  <p>  <p>
336  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
# Line 229  eliminate or override these restrictions Line 340  eliminate or override these restrictions
340  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
341  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
342  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
343  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
344  any of the essential freedoms.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
345    </p>
346    
347    <p>
348    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
349    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
350    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
351    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
352    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
353    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
354    software nonfree.
355    </p>
356    
357    <h4>Legal considerations</h4>
358    
359    <p>
360    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
361    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
362    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
363    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
364    cause, the software is not free.
365    </p>
366    
367    <p>
368    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
369    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
370    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
371    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
372    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
373    license nonfree.
374  </p>  </p>
375    
376  <p>  <p>
377    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
378    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
379    </p>
380    
381    <h4>Contract-based licenses</h4>
382    
383    <p>
384  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
385  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
386  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
# Line 252  legitimate, we will have to think about Line 399  legitimate, we will have to think about
399  it is nonfree.  it is nonfree.
400  </p>  </p>
401    
402    <h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
403    
404  <p>  <p>
405  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
406  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
# Line 263  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs Line 412  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs
412  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
413  </p>  </p>
414    
415    <h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4>
416    
417  <p>  <p>
418  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
419  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
# Line 277  a conclusion about a new issue, we often Line 428  a conclusion about a new issue, we often
428  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
429  </p>  </p>
430    
431    <h4>Get help with free licenses</h4>
432    
433  <p>  <p>
434  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
435  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
# Line 324  free cultural works</a> applicable to an Line 477  free cultural works</a> applicable to an
477  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
478    
479  <p>  <p>
480  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
481  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
482  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
483  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
484  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
485  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
486  </p>  </p>
487    </div>
488    
489  <h3 id="History">History</h3>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
490    
491  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
492  the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was  the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
493  changed.</p>  was changed.</p>
494    
495  <ul>  <ul>
496    
497    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.168&amp;r2=1.169">Version
498    1.169</a>: Explain why more clearly why the four freedoms must apply
499    to commercial activity.  Explain why the four freedoms imply the
500    freedom not to run the program and the freedom to delete it, so there
501    is no need to state those as separate requirements.</li>
502    
503    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.164&amp;r2=1.165">Version
504    1.165</a>: Clarify that arbitrary annoyances in the code do not
505    negate freedom 0, and that freedoms 1 and 3 enable users to remove them.</li>
506    
507    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.152&amp;r2=1.153">Version
508    1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
509    you from making it run.</li>
510    
511    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.140&amp;r2=1.141">Version
512    1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
513    
514    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.134&amp;r2=1.135">Version
515    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
516    as you wish.</li>
517    
518    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.133&amp;r2=1.134">Version
519    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
520    
521    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.130&amp;r2=1.131">Version
522    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
523    of another program.</li>
524    
525    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.128&amp;r2=1.129">Version
526    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
527    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
528    
529    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.121&amp;r2=1.122">Version
530    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
531    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
532    
533    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.117&amp;r2=1.118">Version
534    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
535    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
536    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
537    
538  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.110&amp;r2=1.111">Version  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.110&amp;r2=1.111">Version
539  1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only  1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
540  retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright  retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
# Line 419  licenses.</li> Line 614  licenses.</li>
614    
615  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.10&amp;r2=1.11">Version  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.10&amp;r2=1.11">Version
616  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
617  versions you distribute to the author.</li>  versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
618    
619  </ul>  </ul>
620    
621  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
622  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition as such.  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
623  These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the  interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
624  complete list of changes to the page through  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
625    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
626  the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb  the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
627  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
628    
629  </div>  <h3 style="font-size:1em">Footnote</h3>
630    <ol>
631    <li id="f1">The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around
632    1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized that
633    the freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned explicitly.
634    It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should
635    precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>
636    </ol>
637    
638    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
639  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
   
640  <div id="footer">  <div id="footer">
641    <div class="unprintable">
642    
643  <p>  <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
 Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  
644  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
645  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
646  the FSF.  the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
647  <br />  to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
648  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to  
649  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
650  </p>          replace it with the translation of these two:
651    
652            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
653            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
654            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
655            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
656            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
657    
658            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
659            our web pages, see <a
660            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
661            README</a>. -->
662    Please see the <a
663    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
664    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
665    of this article.</p>
666    </div>
667    
668  <p>  <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
669  Please see the       files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
670  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations       be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
671  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting       without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
672  translations of this article.       Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
673  </p>       document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
674         document was modified, or published.
675        
676         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
677         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
678         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
679         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
680         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
681        
682         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
683         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
684    
685    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2019
686    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
687    
 <p>  
 Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 Free Software  
 Foundation, Inc.  
 </p>  
688  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
689  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
690  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.  Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
 </p>  
691    
692  <p>  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
693  Updated:  
694    <p class="unprintable">Updated:
695  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
696  $Date$  $Date$
697  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
698  </p>  </p>
699  </div>  </div>
700    </div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include -->
   
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701  </body>  </body>
702  </html>  </html>

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