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revision 1.110 by rms, Mon Feb 20 07:41:23 2012 UTC revision 1.118 by rms, Sun Jul 1 10:12:02 2012 UTC
# Line 15  Line 15 
15  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16    
17  <blockquote>  <blockquote>
18    <p>
19  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
20  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
21  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
22  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
23  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
24  software.  software.
25    </p>
26  </blockquote>  </blockquote>
27    
28  <p>  <p>
29  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
30  freedom and community.  Roughly, the users have the freedom to run,  freedom and community.  Roughly, <b>the users have the freedom to run,
31  copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.  With these  copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software</b>.  With these
32  freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the  freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the
33  program and what it does for them.  program and what it does for them.
34  </p>  </p>
# Line 105  make them. Line 107  make them.
107    
108  <p>  <p>
109  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
110  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
111  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
112  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
113  &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 144  as a free license. Line 146  as a free license.
146  <p>  <p>
147  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
148  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
149  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
150  its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the  restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
151  software is not free.  cause, the software is not free.
152  </p>  </p>
153    
154  <p>  <p>
# Line 171  you always have the freedom to copy and Line 173  you always have the freedom to copy and
173    
174  <p>  <p>
175  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
176  If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that  If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
177  someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.  someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
178  </p>  </p>
179    
180  <p>  <p>
# Line 192  A special issue arises when a license re Line 194  A special issue arises when a license re
194  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
195  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
196  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
197  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's an suitable aliasing  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
198  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
199  alias for the modified version.</p>  alias for the modified version.</p>
200    
# Line 297  help you can ensure that the license rea Line 299  help you can ensure that the license rea
299  and avoid various practical problems.  and avoid various practical problems.
300  </p>  </p>
301    
302  <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
303    
304  <p>  <p>
305  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
# Line 319  has been extended to a definition of <a Line 321  has been extended to a definition of <a
321  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
322  </p>  </p>
323    
324  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
325    
326  <p>  <p>
327  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
# Line 330  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philos Line 332  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philos
332  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
333  </p>  </p>
334    
335  <h2 id="History">History</h2>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
336    
337  <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
338  the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was  the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was
# Line 338  changed.</p> Line 340  changed.</p>
340    
341  <ul>  <ul>
342    
343    <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
344    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
345    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
346    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
347    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
348    
349  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.104&amp;r2=1.105">Version  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.104&amp;r2=1.105">Version
350  1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point  1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
351  (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified  (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
# Line 446  translations of this article. Line 454  translations of this article.
454  </p>  </p>
455    
456  <p>  <p>
457  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,  Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 Free Software
458  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  Foundation, Inc.
459  </p>  </p>
460  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
461  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
# Line 462  $Date$ Line 470  $Date$
470  </p>  </p>
471  </div>  </div>
472    
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473    
474  </div>  </div>
475    
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