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4    - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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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;.  A free
113    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
114    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
115    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
116    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
117    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
118    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
119    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
120  </p>  </p>
121    
122  <p>  <p>
123  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  A free program must offer the four freedoms to any user that obtains a
124  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  copy of the software, provided the user has complied thus far with the
125  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to  conditions of the free license covering the software.  Putting some of
126  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  the freedoms off limits to some users, or requiring that users pay, in
127    money or in kind, to exercise them, is tantamount to not granting the
128    freedoms in question, and thus renders the program nonfree.
129  </p>  </p>
130    
131    <h3>Clarifying the line at various points</h3>
132    
133    <p>In the rest of this article we expain more precisely how far the
134    various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a
135    program to be free.</p>
136    
137    <h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
138    
139  <p>  <p>
140  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
141  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
# Line 95  for her purposes, but you are not entitl Line 148  for her purposes, but you are not entitl
148  </p>  </p>
149    
150  <p>  <p>
151  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
152  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
153  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary  functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
154  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there  functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
155  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program  particular computing activity.</p>
156  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the  
157  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to  <p>For example, if the code arbitrarily rejects certain meaningful
158  make them.  inputs&mdash;or even fails unconditionally&mdash;that may make the
159  </p>  program less useful, perhaps even totally useless, but it does not
160    deny users the freedom to run the program, so it does not conflict
161    with freedom 0.  If the program is free, the users can overcome the
162    loss of usefulness, because freedoms 1 and 3 permit users and
163    communities to make and distribute modified versions without the
164    arbitrary nuisance code.</p>
165    
166    <h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
167    
168  <p>  <p>
169  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
170  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
171  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
172  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
173  &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 180  the original.  If the program is deliver
180  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
181  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
182  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
183  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
184  than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,  practical reality.  These binaries are not free
185  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.  
186  </p>  </p>
187    
188  <p>  <p>
# Line 135  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 194  license is too restrictive to qualify as
194  </p>  </p>
195    
196  <p>  <p>
197    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
198    If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
199    someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
200    </p>
201    
202    <h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4>
203    
204    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
205    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
206    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
207    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
208    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
209    for permission to do so.
210    </p>
211    
212    <p>
213    You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
214    privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
215    exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
216    notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
217    </p>
218    
219    <p>
220  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
221  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
222  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 226  as a free license.
226  </p>  </p>
227    
228  <p>  <p>
229  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
230  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
231  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
232  restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
233  cause, the software is not free.  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
234    (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
235    freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
236    make them.
237  </p>  </p>
238    
239    <h4>Copyleft</h4>
240    
241  <p>  <p>
242  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
243  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
244  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
245  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
246  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
247  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
248    protects them.
249  </p>  </p>
250    
251  <p>  <p>
252  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
253  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
254  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
255  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  copyleft</a>.  However,
256  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
257  obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
258  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
259  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
260    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
261    relate to each other.
262  </p>  </p>
263    
264  <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>  
265    
266  <p>  <p>
267  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
268  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
269  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
270  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 210  sort of requirement is acceptable only i Line 296  sort of requirement is acceptable only i
296  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
297  alias for the modified version.</p>  alias for the modified version.</p>
298    
299  <p>  <h4>Export regulations</h4>
 In the GNU project, we use  
 <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>  
 to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  
 <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted  
 free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  
 <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,  
 but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically  
 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.)  
 </p>  
300    
301  <p>  <p>
302  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 306  eliminate or override these restrictions
306  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
307  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
308  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
309  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
310  any of the essential freedoms.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
311  </p>  </p>
312    
313  <p>  <p>
314    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
315    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
316    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
317    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
318    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
319    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
320    software nonfree.
321    </p>
322    
323    <h4>Legal considerations</h4>
324    
325    <p>
326    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
327    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
328    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
329    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
330    cause, the software is not free.
331    </p>
332    
333    <p>
334    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
335    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
336    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
337    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
338    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
339    license nonfree.
340    </p>
341    
342    <p>
343    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
344    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
345    </p>
346    
347    <h4>Contract-based licenses</h4>
348    
349    <p>
350  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
351  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
352  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 365  legitimate, we will have to think about
365  it is nonfree.  it is nonfree.
366  </p>  </p>
367    
368    <h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
369    
370  <p>  <p>
371  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
372  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 378  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs
378  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
379  </p>  </p>
380    
381    <h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4>
382    
383  <p>  <p>
384  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
385  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 394  a conclusion about a new issue, we often
394  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
395  </p>  </p>
396    
397    <h4>Get help with free licenses</h4>
398    
399  <p>  <p>
400  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
401  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 443  free cultural works</a> applicable to an
443  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
444    
445  <p>  <p>
446  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
447  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
448  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
449  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
450  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">
451  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
452  </p>  </p>
453    </div>
454    
455  <h3 id="History">History</h3>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
456    
# Line 340  was changed.</p> Line 460  was changed.</p>
460    
461  <ul>  <ul>
462    
463    <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
464    1.165</a>: Clarify that arbitrary annoyances in the code do not
465    negate freedom 0, and that freedoms 1 and 3 enable users to remove them.</li>
466    
467    <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
468    1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
469    you from making it run.</li>
470    
471    <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
472    1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
473    
474    <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
475    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
476    as you wish.</li>
477    
478    <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
479    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
480    
481    <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
482    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
483    of another program.</li>
484    
485    <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
486    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
487    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
488    
489    <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
490    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
491    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
492    
493    <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
494    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
495    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
496    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
497    
498  <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
499  1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only  1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
500  retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright  retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
# Line 419  licenses.</li> Line 574  licenses.</li>
574    
575  <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
576  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
577  versions you distribute to the author.</li>  versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
578    
579  </ul>  </ul>
580    
581  <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
582  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
583  These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the  interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
584  complete list of changes to the page through  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
585    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
586  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
587  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
588    
589  </div>  <h3 style="font-size:1em">Footnote</h3>
590    <ol>
591    <li id="f1">The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around
592    1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized that
593    the freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned explicitly.
594    It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should
595    precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>
596    </ol>
597    
598    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
599  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
   
600  <div id="footer">  <div id="footer">
601    <div class="unprintable">
602    
603  <p>  <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
 Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  
604  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
605  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
606  the FSF.  the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
607  <br />  to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
608  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to  
609  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
610  </p>          replace it with the translation of these two:
611    
612            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
613            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
614            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
615            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
616            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
617    
618            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
619            our web pages, see <a
620            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
621            README</a>. -->
622    Please see the <a
623    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
624    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
625    of this article.</p>
626    </div>
627    
628  <p>  <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
629  Please see the       files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
630  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations       be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
631  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting       without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
632  translations of this article.       Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
633  </p>       document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
634         document was modified, or published.
635        
636         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
637         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
638         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
639         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
640         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
641        
642         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
643         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
644    
645    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2019
646    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
647    
 <p>  
 Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 Free Software  
 Foundation, Inc.  
 </p>  
648  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
649  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
650  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.  Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
 </p>  
651    
652  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
653    
654  <p>Updated:  <p class="unprintable">Updated:
655  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
656  $Date$  $Date$
657  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
658  </p>  </p>
659  </div>  </div>
660    </div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include -->
   
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661  </body>  </body>
662  </html>  </html>

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