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3  <body>  <title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
4    
5  <p><a href="#translations">Translations</a> of this page</p>  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
6    <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." />
7    <link rel="alternate" title="What's New" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
8    <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
9    
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12    
13    <h2>What is free software?</h2>
14    
15  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16    
17    <blockquote>
18    The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
19    particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
20    time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
21    about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
22    below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
23    software.
24    </blockquote>
25    
26  <p>  <p>
27  <a href="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><img src="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg" alt=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] " width="160" height="200" /></a>  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
28    freedom and community.  Roughly, the users have the freedom to run,
29    copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.  With these
30    freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the
31    program and what it does for them.
32  </p>  </p>
33    
34  <p>  <p>
35  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  When users don't control the program, the program controls the users.
36  true about a particular software program for it to be considered  The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users.
37  free software.</p>  This nonfree or &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program is therefore an
38    instrument of unjust power.
39    </p>
40    
41  <p>  <p>
42  ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.
43  concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in  To understand the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as
44  ``free beer.''</p>  in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.
45    </p>
46    
47  <p>  <p>
48  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,  A program is free software if the program's users have the
49  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  four essential freedoms:
50  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:</p>  </p>
51    
52  <ul>  <ul>
53    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
54    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
55        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
56          code is a precondition for this.
57      </li>
58    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
59        (freedom 2).</li>        (freedom 2).
60    <li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
61       to the public, so that the whole community benefits    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
62        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
63          community a chance to benefit from your changes.
64          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
65      </li>
66  </ul>  </ul>
67    
68  <p>  <p>
69  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,
70  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
71  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
72  distribution, to <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
73  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
74  have to ask or pay for permission.</p>  for permission to do so.
75    </p>
76    
77  <p>  <p>
78  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
79  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
80  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
81  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.</p>  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
82    </p>
83    
84  <p>  <p>
85  The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
86  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
87  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
88  with the developer or any other specific entity.</p>  with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
89    the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
90    purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
91    and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
92    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
93    </p>
94    
95  <p>  <p>
96  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
97  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
98  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
99  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
100  ok if there is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
101  certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
102  you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you find  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
103  or develop a way to make them.</p>  make them.
104  <p>  </p>
105  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  
106  versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  <p>
107  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
108  condition for free software.</p>  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have
109  <p>  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
110  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
111  long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
112  power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give  as source code.
113  cause, the software is not free.</p>  </p>
114    
115    <p>
116    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
117    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
118    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
119    practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
120    or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
121    boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather
122    than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,
123    these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are
124    compiled from is free.
125    </p>
126    
127    <p>
128    One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
129    subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
130    cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
131    requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
132    license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
133    </p>
134    
135    <p>
136    Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
137    as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
138    releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
139    a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
140    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
141    as a free license.
142    </p>
143    
144    <p>
145    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
146    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
147    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change
148    its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the
149    software is not free.
150    </p>
151    
152  <p>  <p>
153  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
154  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
155  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that
156  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny
157  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with
158  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.</p>  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.
159    </p>
160    
161    <p>
162    &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
163    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
164    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
165    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
166    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
167    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
168    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
169    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
170    </p>
171    
172    <p>
173    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
174    If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that
175    someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.
176    </p>
177    
178    <p>
179    However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
180    if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
181    versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
182    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
183    name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
184    modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
185    burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
186    changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
187    the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
188    </p>
189    
190    <p>
191    A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
192    which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
193    effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
194    can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
195    sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's an suitable aliasing
196    facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
197    alias for the modified version.</p>
198    
199    <p>
200    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
201    must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
202    on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
203    saying that if you have distributed a
204    modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
205    must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
206    whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
207    of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
208    are also acceptable.
209    </p>
210    
211    <p>
212    In the GNU project, we use
213    <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
214    to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
215    <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted
216    free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
217    <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
218    but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically
219    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.)
220    </p>
221    
222  <p>  <p>
223  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
224  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
225  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
226  software, even to <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.</p>  eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
227  <p>  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
228  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
229  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
230  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of
231  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.</p>  any of the essential freedoms.
232  <p>  </p>
233  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  
234  don't substantively block your freedom to release modified versions.  <p>
235  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
236  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
237  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
238  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the  is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
239  license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version  (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
240  and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one,  licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
241  or that you identify yourself on your modifications.</p>  range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
242  <p>  such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
243  In the GNU project, we use <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">``copyleft''</a>  </p>
244  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  
245  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  <p>
246  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are  We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
247  important reasons why <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
248  better to use copyleft</a>, but if your program is non-copylefted free  copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
249  software, we can still use it.</p>  legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
250  <p>  it is nonfree.
251  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>  </p>
252  for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  
253  other categories of software relate to each other.</p>  <p>
254  <p>  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
255  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
256  regulations</a> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
257  distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
258  not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
259  what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of  are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
260  use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
261  activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.</p>  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
262  <p>  </p>
263  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are  
 limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  
 If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described  
 above, it is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never  
 anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some  
 free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can  
 impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there  
 are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably  
 restrictive and non-free.</p>  
 <p>  
 We can't possibly list all the possible contract restrictions that  
 would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user  
 in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which  
 isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,  
 and we will probably decide it is non-free.</p>  
 <p>  
 When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  
 ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  
 issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  
 ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See  
 <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  
 that are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  
 We also have a list of <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations  
 of "free software"</a> into various languages.</p>  
264  <p>  <p>
265  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
266  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
267  decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
268  software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
269  whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a  spirit as well as the precise words.  If a license includes unconscionable
270  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
271  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
272  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,  that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
273  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the  before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
274  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new  a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
275  issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
276  certain licenses do or don't qualify.</p>  </p>
277  <p>  
278  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  <p>
279  free software license, see our <a  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
280  href="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</a>.  If the  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
281  license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us  of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
282  about it by sending us email at <a  listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
283  href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p> <p>  <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
284  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the FSF  </p>
285  by writing to that address. The proliferation of different free  
286  software licenses means increased work for users in understanding the  <p>
287  licenses; we may be able to help you find an existing Free Software  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
288  license that meets your needs.  Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
289    proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
290    for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
291    find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
292  </p>  </p>
293    
294  <p>  <p>
295  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
296  help you can ensure that the license really is a Free Software license  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
297  and avoid various practical problems.  and avoid various practical problems.
298  </p>  </p>
 <hr />  
299    
300  <p>  <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>
 Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean  
 something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the  
 term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom  
 rather than price, <a href="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls  
 to mind freedom</a>.  The word "open" never does that.</p>  
   
 <hr />  
 <h4><a href="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</a></h4>  
   
   
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 <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->  
 <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->  
 <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->  
 <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->  
 <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->  
 [  
   <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">Catal&#x00e0;</a>       <!-- Catalan -->  
301    
302  <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->  <p>
303  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
304    for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
305    manuals are in effect part of the software.
306    </p>
307    
308  <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->  <p>
309  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
310    practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
311    such as educational works and reference
312    works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
313    example.
314    </p>
315    
316  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>        <!-- Czech -->  <p>
317  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Dansk</a>       <!-- Danish -->  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
318  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>     <!-- German -->  has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
319  | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a>      <!-- Spanish -->  
   
 <!-- Persian/Farsi -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>  
   
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a>     <!-- French -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galego</a>      <!-- Galician -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>    <!-- Hebrew -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Hrvatski</a>    <!-- Croatian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>    <!-- Indonesian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italiano</a>    <!-- Italian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>    <!-- Japanese -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>    <!-- Korean -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Magyar</a>      <!-- Hungarian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>  <!-- Dutch -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norsk</a>       <!-- Norwegian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polski</a>      <!-- Polish -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portugu&#x0ea;s</a>     <!-- Portuguese -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x00e3;</a>        <!-- Romanian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a> <!-- Russian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovinsko</a>   <!--- Slovenian -->  
 | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>        <!-- Turkish -->  
 ]  
320  </p>  </p>
 </div>  
321    
322  <div class="copyright">  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>
323    
324  <p>  <p>
325  Return to the <a href="/home.html">GNU Project home page</a>.  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
326    something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
327    prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
328    it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
329    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
330    never refers to freedom</a>.
331  </p>  </p>
332    
333    <h2 id="History">History</h2>
334    
335    <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
336    the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was
337    changed.</p>
338    
339    <ul>
340    
341    <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
342    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
343    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
344    version for your computing.</li>
345    
346    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.91&amp;r2=1.92">Version
347    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
348    
349    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.89&amp;r2=1.90">Version
350    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
351    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
352    in someone else's development project.</li>
353    
354    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.88&amp;r2=1.89">Version
355    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
356    free software.</li>
357    
358    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.79&amp;r2=1.80">Version
359    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
360    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
361    
362    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.76&amp;r2=1.77">Version
363    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
364    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
365    replacement.</li>
366    
367    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.73&amp;r2=1.74">Version
368    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
369    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
370    <ul>
371    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
372    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
373    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
374    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
375    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
376    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
377    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
378    </ul>
379    </li>
380    
381    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.56&amp;r2=1.57">Version
382    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
383    
384    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.45&amp;r2=1.46">Version
385    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
386    the program for any purpose.</li>
387    
388    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.40&amp;r2=1.41">Version
389    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
390    
391    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.39&amp;r2=1.40">Version
392    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
393    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
394    
395    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.38&amp;r2=1.39">Version
396    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
397    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
398    use.</li>
399    
400    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.30&amp;r2=1.31">Version
401    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
402    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
403    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
404    
405    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.22&amp;r2=1.23">Version
406    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
407    licenses.</li>
408    
409    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.15&amp;r2=1.16">Version
410    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
411    
412    <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
413    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
414    versions you distribute to the author.</li>
415    
416    </ul>
417    
418    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
419    other changes in this page that do not affect the definition as such.
420    These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the
421    complete list of changes to the page through
422    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
423    interface</a>.</p>
424    
425    </div>
426    
427    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
428    
429    <div id="footer">
430    
431  <p>  <p>
432  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
433  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
434  There are also <a href="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
435  the FSF.  the FSF.
436  <br />  <br />
437  Please send broken links and other corrections (or suggestions) to  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
438  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
439  </p>  </p>
440    
441  <p>  <p>
# Line 286  translations of this article. Line 446  translations of this article.
446  </p>  </p>
447    
448  <p>  <p>
449  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,
450  Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
451  02111,  USA  </p>
452  <br />  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
453  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
454  permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.
 preserved.  
455  </p>  </p>
456    
457  <p>  <p>
458  Updated:  Updated:
459  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
460  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
461  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
462  </p>  </p>
463  </div>  </div>
464    
465    <!-- <div id="translations"> -->
466    <!-- <h4>Translations of this page</h4> -->
467    <!--  -->
468    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical by language code. -->
469    <!--      Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German. -->
470    <!--      Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text. -->
471    <!--      If you add a new language here, please -->
472    <!--      advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
473    <!--       - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
474    <!--       - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
475    <!--       - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
476    <!--       to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
477    <!--      Please also check you have the language code right; see: -->
478    <!--      http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php -->
479    <!--      If the 2-letter ISO 639-1 code is not available, -->
480    <!--      use the 3-letter ISO 639-2. -->
481    <!--      Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
482    <!--  -->
483    <!-- <ul class="translations-list"> -->
484    <!-- Afrikaans -->
485    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li> -->
486    <!-- Arabic -->
487    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li> -->
488    <!-- Azerbaijani -->
489    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li> -->
490    <!-- Bulgarian -->
491    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li> -->
492    <!-- Bengali -->
493    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li> -->
494    <!-- Bosnian -->
495    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li> -->
496    <!-- Catalan -->
497    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li> -->
498    <!-- Czech -->
499    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li> -->
500    <!-- Danish -->
501    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li> -->
502    <!-- German -->
503    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li> -->
504    <!-- Greek -->
505    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li> -->
506    <!-- English -->
507    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li> -->
508    <!-- Esperanto -->
509    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li> -->
510    <!-- Spanish -->
511    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li> -->
512    <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->
513    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li> -->
514    <!-- French -->
515    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li> -->
516    <!-- Galician -->
517    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li> -->
518    <!-- Hebrew -->
519    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li> -->
520    <!-- Croatian -->
521    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li> -->
522    <!-- Hungarian -->
523    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li> -->
524    <!-- Indonesian -->
525    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li> -->
526    <!-- Italian -->
527    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li> -->
528    <!-- Japanese -->
529    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li> -->
530    <!-- Korean -->
531    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li> -->
532    <!-- Norwegian Bokmål -->
533    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li> -->
534    <!-- Dutch -->
535    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li> -->
536    <!-- Polish -->
537    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li> -->
538    <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->
539    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li> -->
540    <!-- Romanian -->
541    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li> -->
542    <!-- Russian -->
543    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li> -->
544    <!-- Slovak -->
545    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li> -->
546    <!-- - Slovenian -->
547    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li> -->
548    <!-- Serbian -->
549    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li> -->
550    <!-- Swedish -->
551    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li> -->
552    <!-- Tamil -->
553    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li> -->
554    <!-- Tagalog -->
555    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li> -->
556    <!-- Turkish -->
557    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li> -->
558    <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->
559    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li> -->
560    <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->
561    <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li> -->
562    <!-- </ul> -->
563    <!-- </div> -->
564    
565    </div>
566    
567  </body>  </body>
568  </html>  </html>
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