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<title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title> |
<title>What is free software? |
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- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
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<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." /> |
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<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
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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 |
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freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have |
freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have |
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access to the source code of the program. Therefore, accessibility of |
access to the source code of the program. Therefore, accessibility of |
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source code is a necessary condition for free software. Obfuscated |
source code is a necessary condition for free software. Obfuscated |
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“source code” is not real source code and does not count |
“source code” is not real source code and does not count |
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Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter. |
Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter. |
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If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that |
If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that |
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someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom. |
someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free. |
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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 a 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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<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 a 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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In the GNU project, we use |
In the GNU project, we use |
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<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> |
<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> |
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to protect these freedoms legally for everyone. But |
to protect these freedoms legally for everyone. But |
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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 |
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way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
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jurisdictions of these governments. Thus, free software licenses |
jurisdictions of these governments. Thus, free software licenses |
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must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of |
must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a |
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any of the essential freedoms. |
condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms. |
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Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making |
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them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does |
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not restrict users. If an export regulation is actually trivial for |
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free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual |
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problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in |
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export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the |
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software nonfree. |
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and avoid various practical problems. |
and avoid various practical problems. |
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<h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2> |
<h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3> |
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<p> |
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<a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>, |
<a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>, |
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free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works. |
free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2> |
<h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3> |
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Another group has started using the term “open source” to mean |
Another group has started using the term “open source” to mean |
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never refers to freedom</a>. |
never refers to freedom</a>. |
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<h2 id="History">History</h2> |
<h3 id="History">History</h3> |
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<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 |
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the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was |
the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what |
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changed.</p> |
was changed.</p> |
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<ul> |
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<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.121&r2=1.122">Version |
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1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the |
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requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li> |
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<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.110&r2=1.111">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.110&r2=1.111">Version |
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1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only |
1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only |
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retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable. The copyright |
retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable. The copyright |
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the <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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<p>Please send general FSF & GNU inquiries to |
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Please send FSF & GNU inquiries to |
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There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> |
There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a> |
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the FSF. |
the FSF. Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent |
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Updated: |
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<p>Updated: |
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$Date$ |
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