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1  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2    
3  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>  <title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
4    
5  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />  <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." />  <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" />  <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" />  <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
9    
10    <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
11  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
12    
13  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
14    
15    <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16    
17    <blockquote>
18    <p>
19    The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
20    particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
21    time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
22    about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
23    below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
24    software.
25    </p>
26    </blockquote>
27    
28  <p>  <p>
29  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
30  true about a particular software program for it to be considered free  freedom and community.  Roughly, <b>the users have the freedom to run,
31  software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.  copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software</b>.  With these
32  If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see  freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the
33  the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.  program and what it does for them.
34  </p>  </p>
35    
36  <p>  <p>
37  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  When users don't control the program, the program controls the users.
38  the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;  The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users.
39  not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;  This nonfree or &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program is therefore an
40    instrument of unjust power.
41  </p>  </p>
42    
43  <p>  <p>
44  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.
45  study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it means that the  To understand the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as
46  program's users have the four essential freedoms:  in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.
47    </p>
48    
49    <p>
50    A program is free software if the program's users have the
51    four essential freedoms:
52  </p>  </p>
53    
54  <ul>  <ul>
55    <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>
56    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
57        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
58        precondition for this.        code is a precondition for this.
59    </li>    </li>
60    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
61        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
# Line 87  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 97  as source code. Line 117  as source code.
117  <p>  <p>
118  Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of  Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
119  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
120  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash;  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
121  a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
122  blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
123  theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather
124  sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software  than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,
125  even if the source code they are compiled from is free.  these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are
126    compiled from is free.
127  </p>  </p>
128    
129  <p>  <p>
# Line 125  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 140  the central freedoms; rather it protects Line 161  the central freedoms; rather it protects
161  </p>  </p>
162    
163  <p>  <p>
164  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
165  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
166  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
167  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
# Line 152  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 181  are also acceptable. Line 202  are also acceptable.
202  </p>  </p>
203    
204  <p>  <p>
205    A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
206    which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
207    effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
208    can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
209    sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
210    facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
211    alias for the modified version.</p>
212    
213    <p>
214  In the GNU project, we use  In the GNU project, we use
215  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
216  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
# Line 269  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 281  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 311  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
311  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
312  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
313  such as educational works and reference  such as educational works and reference
314  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
315  example.  example.
316  </p>  </p>
317    
# Line 291  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
328  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
329  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
330  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
331  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">
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 to  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
338  clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with  the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
339  links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review  was changed.</p>
 them if they like.</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
350    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
352    version for your computing.</li>
353    
354  <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  <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
355  1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>  1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
356    
# Line 383  versions you distribute to the author.</ Line 423  versions you distribute to the author.</
423    
424  </ul>  </ul>
425    
426  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
427  changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition as such.
428  Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would  These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the
429  like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on  complete list of changes to the page through
430  our <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
431  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
432    
433  </div>  </div>
# Line 414  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>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
461  permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
462  preserved.  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.
463  </p>  </p>
464    
465  <p>  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
466  Updated:  
467    <p>Updated:
468  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
469  $Date$  $Date$
470  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
471  </p>  </p>
472  </div>  </div>
473    
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474    
475  </div>  </div>
476    

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