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-revision 1.13 by wkotwica,
Sun Feb 24 19:41:26 2002 UTC
+revision 1.175 by th_g,
Fri Jul 16 12:11:26 2021 UTC
 Line 1
- <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML 2.0//EN">
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
- <HTML>
+ <!-- Parent-Version: 1.96 -->
- <HEAD>
+ <!-- This page is derived from /server/standards/boilerplate.html -->
- <TITLE>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE>
+ <!--#set var="TAGS" value="aboutfs" -->
- <LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org">
+ <!--#set var="DISABLE_TOP_ADDENDUM" value="yes" -->
- </HEAD>
+ <title>What is Free Software?
- <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#9900DD">
+ - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
- <H3>The Free Software Definition</H3>
+ <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!--
+ .note { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; }
- <A HREF="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><IMG SRC="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg"
+ @media (min-width: 48em) {
-    ALT=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] "
+    .note { margin-top: .8em; }
-    WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>
+ }
+ --></style>
- [
+ <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
- <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
+ <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." />
- <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
+ <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
-   <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>
+ <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/ph-breadcrumb.html" -->
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>
+ <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE-->
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" -->
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>
+ <div class="reduced-width">
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>
+ <h2>What is Free Software?</h2>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>
+ <div class="thin"></div>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>
+ <div class="article">
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>
+ <div class="important">
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>
+ <p>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>
+ &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>
+ freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>
+ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>
+ software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>
+ liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>
+ &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
- <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
+ &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
- <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
+ software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
- ]
+ &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
- <P>
+ is gratis.
+ </p>
- We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be
- true about a particular software program for it to be considered
+ <p>
- free software.
+ You may have paid money to get copies of a free program, or you may
+ have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your
- <P>
+ copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the software,
+ even to <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
- ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the
+ </p>
- concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in
+ </div>
- ``free beer.''
- <P>
+ <p>
- Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
+ We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
- distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,
+ these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
- it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
+ the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
- <P>
+ program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
+ &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
- <UL>
+ users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
-   <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
+ program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
-   <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs
+ an instrument of unjust power</a>.
-       (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
+ </p>
-   <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Open source&rdquo; is something different: it has a very
+ different philosophy based on different values.  Its practical
+ definition is different too, but nearly all open source programs are
+ in fact free.  We explain the
+ difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
+ Why &ldquo;Open Source&rdquo; misses the point of Free Software</a>.
+ </p>
+ <div class="toc">
+ <hr class="no-display" />
+ <h3 class="no-display">Table of contents</h3>
+ <ul>
+  <li><a href="#fs-definition">The Free Software Definition</a>
+   <ul>
+    <li><a href="#four-freedoms">The four essential freedoms</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</a></li>
+   </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li><a href="#clarifying">Clarifying the Boundary Between Free and Nonfree</a>
+   <ul>
+    <li><a href="#run-the-program">The freedom to run the program as you
+      wish</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#make-changes">The freedom to study the source code and make
+      changes</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#redistribute">The freedom to redistribute if you wish:
+      basic requirements</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#copyleft">Copyleft</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#packaging">Rules about packaging and distribution
+      details</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#exportcontrol">Export regulations</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#legal-details">Legal considerations</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#contracts">Contract-based licenses</a></li>
+   </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li><a href="#in-practice">The Free Software Definition in Practice</a>
+   <ul>
+    <li><a href="#interpretation">How we interpret these criteria</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#get-help">Get help with free licenses</a></li>
+    <li><a href="#terminology">Use the right words when talking about free
+      software</a></li>
+   </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li><a href="#beyond-software">Beyond Software</a></li>
+  <li><a href="#History">History</a></li>
+ </ul>
+ </div>
+ <div class="edu-note" id="fsf-licensing">
+ <p style="font-size:80%">
+ Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?
+ See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>,
+ and if necessary contact the FSF Compliance Lab
+ at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p>
+ <hr class="no-display" />
+ </div>
+ <h3 id="fs-definition" class="subheader">The Free Software Definition</h3>
+ <p>
+ The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
+ particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
+ time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
+ about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
+ below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
+ software.
+ </p>
+ <h4 id="four-freedoms">The four essential freedoms</h4>
+ <p>
+ A program is free software if the program's users have the
+ four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a>
+ </p>
+ <ul class="important">
+   <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
+       for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
+   <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
+       does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
+       code is a precondition for this.
+   </li>
+   <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others
        (freedom 2).
-   <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
+   </li>
-      to the public, so that the whole community benefits.
+   <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
-       (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
+       to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
- </UL>
+       community a chance to benefit from your changes.
+       Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- <P>
+   </li>
- A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.
+ </ul>
- Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or
- without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for
+ <p>
- distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being
+ A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
- free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not
+ freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
- have to ask or pay for permission.
+ nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
+ being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
+ <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
+ we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
+ consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
+ handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
+ implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
+ are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
+ only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
+ <h4 id="selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</h4>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.
+ On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use,
+ commercial development, and commercial distribution.  This policy is
+ of fundamental importance&mdash;without this, free software could not
+ achieve its aims.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ We want to invite everyone to use the GNU system, including businesses
+ and their workers.  That requires allowing commercial use.  We hope
+ that free replacement programs will supplant comparable proprietary
+ programs, but they can't do that if businesses are forbidden to use
+ them.  We want commercial products that contain software to include
+ the GNU system, and that would constitute commercial distribution for
+ a price.  Commercial development of free software is no longer
+ unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Paid,
+ professional support for free software fills an important need.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Thus, to exclude commercial use, commercial development or commercial
+ distribution would hobble the free software community and obstruct its
+ path to success.  We must conclude that a program licensed with such
+ restrictions does not qualify as free software.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A free program must offer the four freedoms to any would-be user that
+ obtains a copy of the software, who has complied thus far with the
+ conditions of the free license covering the software in any previous
+ distribution of it.  Putting some of the freedoms off limits to some
+ users, or requiring that users pay, in money or in kind, to exercise
+ them, is tantamount to not granting the freedoms in question, and thus
+ renders the program nonfree.
+ </p>
+ <h3 id="clarifying" class="subheader">Clarifying the Boundary Between Free and Nonfree</h3>
+ <p>In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far the
+ various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a
+ program to be free.</p>
+ <h4 id="run-the-program">The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
+ <p>
+ The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
+ or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
+ overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
+ with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
+ the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
+ purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
+ and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
+ for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
+ forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
+ functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
+ functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
+ particular computing activity.</p>
+ <p>For example, if the code arbitrarily rejects certain meaningful
+ inputs&mdash;or even fails unconditionally&mdash;that may make the
+ program less useful, perhaps even totally useless, but it does not
+ deny users the freedom to run the program, so it does not conflict
+ with freedom 0.  If the program is free, the users can overcome the
+ loss of usefulness, because freedoms 1 and 3 permit users and
+ communities to make and distribute modified versions without the
+ arbitrary nuisance code.</p>
+ <p>&ldquo;As you wish&rdquo; includes, optionally, &ldquo;not at
+ all&rdquo; if that is what you wish.  So there is no need for a
+ separate &ldquo;freedom not to run a program.&rdquo;</p>
+ <h4 id="make-changes">The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
+ <p>
+ In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
+ freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you need to have
+ access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
+ source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
+ &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
+ as source code.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
+ the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
+ run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
+ practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
+ or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
+ boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
+ practical reality.  These binaries are not free
+ software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
+ subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
+ cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
+ requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
+ license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ 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>
+ <p>
+ One special case of freedom 1 is to delete the program's code so it
+ returns after doing nothing, or make it invoke some other program.
+ Thus, freedom 1 includes the &ldquo;freedom to delete the program.&rdquo;
+ </p>
+ <h4 id="redistribute">The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic
+ requirements</h4>
+ <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
+ redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
+ gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
+ <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
+ things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
+ for permission to do so.
+ </p>
- <P>
+ <p>
  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
+ </p>
- <P>
+ <p>
- The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person
+ Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
- or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind
+ as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
- of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently
+ releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
- with the developer or any other specific entity.
+ a <a href="/licenses/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
+ license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
+ as a free license.
+ </p>
- <P>
+ <p>
  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
- unmodified versions.  It is ok if there is no way to produce a binary
+ unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
- or executable form (since some languages don't support that feature),
+ for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
- but you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you
+ is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
- find or develop a way to make them.
+ (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
+ freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
- <P>
+ make them.
- In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved
+ </p>
- versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of
- the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary
+ <h4 id="copyleft">Copyleft</h4>
- condition for free software.
- <P>
- In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as
- long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the
- power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give
- cause, the software is not free.
- <P>
+ <p>
- However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
+ Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
- freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that
+ freedoms.  For example, <a href="/licenses/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
- when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny
+ (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
- other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with
+ you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
- the central freedoms; rather it protects them.
+ This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
+ protects them.
- <P>
+ </p>
- Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of GNU software, or you
- may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got
+ <p>
- your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the
+ In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
- software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.
+ legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
- <P>
+ <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
+ copyleft</a>.  However,
- ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program
+ <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
- must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and
+ noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
- commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is
+ too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
- no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
+ Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
+ &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
- <P>
+ relate to each other.
- Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they
+ </p>
- don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.
- Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must
+ <h4 id="packaging">Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
- make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the
- same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
+ <p>
- whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the
+ Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
- license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version
+ if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
- and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one.
+ versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
+ Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
- <P>
+ name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
- In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">
+ modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
- ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
+ burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
- <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
+ changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
- non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are
+ the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
- important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is
+ </p>
- better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free
- software, we can still use it.
+ <p>
+ Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
- <P>
+ must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
- See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software
+ on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
-        (18k characters)</A>
+ saying that if you have distributed a
- for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and
+ modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
- other categories of software relate to each other.
+ must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
+ whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
- <P>
+ of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
- Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control
+ are also acceptable.
- regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to
+ </p>
- distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do
- not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but
+ <p>
- what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of
+ A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
- use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect
+ which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
- activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.
+ effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
+ can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
- <P>
+ sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
- When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like
+ facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
- ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the
+ alias for the modified version.</p>
- issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as
- ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A
+ <h4 id="exportcontrol">Export regulations</h4>
- HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases
- that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.
+ <p>
- We also have a list of <A HREF="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations
+ Sometimes government export control regulations
- of "free software"</A> into various languages.
+ and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
+ programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
- <P>
+ eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
+ is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
- Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
+ way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
- definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To
+ jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
- decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free
+ must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
- software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine
+ condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
- whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a
+ </p>
- license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we
- did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license
+ <p>
- requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,
+ Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
- including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the
+ them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
- requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new
+ not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
- issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why
+ free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
- certain licenses do or don't qualify.
+ problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
+ export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
- <P>
+ software nonfree.
+ </p>
- If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a
- free software license, see our <A
+ <h4 id="legal-details">Legal considerations</h4>
- HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the
- license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us
+ <p>
- about it by sending us email at <A
+ In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
- HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.
+ irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
+ software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
- <HR>
+ restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
+ cause, the software is not free.
- <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>
+ </p>
- <P>
+ <p>
- Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean
+ A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
- something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the
+ nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
- term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom
+ comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
- rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls
+ the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
- to mind freedom</A>.
+ compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
+ license nonfree.
- <HR>
+ </p>
- [
- <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
+ <p>
- <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
+ It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
-   <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>
+ law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>
+ </p>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>
+ <h4 id="contracts">Contract-based licenses</h4>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>
+ <p>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>
+ Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>
+ on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>
+ copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>
+ is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>
+ (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>
+ licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>
+ range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>
+ such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>
+ </p>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>
- | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>
+ <p>
- <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
+ We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
- <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
+ contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
- ]
+ copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
- <P>
+ legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
- Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.
+ it is nonfree.
- <P>
+ </p>
- Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to
+ <h3 id="in-practice" class="subheader">The Free Software Definition in Practice</h3>
- <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
+ <h4 id="interpretation">How we interpret these criteria</h4>
- There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to
- contact</A> the FSF.
+ <p>
- <P>
+ Note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
+ definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
- Please send comments on these web pages to
+ whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
+ we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
- <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,
+ spirit as well as the precise words.  If a license includes unconscionable
- send other questions to
+ restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
- <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
+ in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
- <P>
+ that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
- Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
-Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111,  USA
+ a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
- <P>
+ it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
- Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
+ </p>
- permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
- <P>
+ <h4 id="get-help">Get help with free licenses</h4>
- Updated:
+ <p>
+ If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
+ software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
+ of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
+ listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
+ <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
+ Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
+ proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
+ for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
+ find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
+ help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
+ and avoid various practical problems.
+ </p>
+ <h4 id="terminology">Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
+ <p>
+ When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
+ like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
+ the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
+ as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; 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 proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
+ &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
+ </p>
+ <p id="open-source">
+ Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
+ something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
+ prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
+ it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
+ word &ldquo;open&rdquo; never refers to freedom.
+ </p>
+ <h3 id="beyond-software" class="subheader">Beyond Software</h3>
+ <p>
+ <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
+ for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
+ manuals are in effect part of the software.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
+ practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
+ such as educational works and reference
+ works.  <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
+ example.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
+ has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
+ free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
+ </p>
+ <hr class="column-limit" />
+ </div>
+ <h3 id="History">History</h3>
+ <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
+ the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
+ was changed.</p>
+ <ul>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.168&amp;r2=1.169">Version
+.169</a>: Explain more clearly why the four freedoms must apply
+ to commercial activity.  Explain why the four freedoms imply the
+ freedom not to run the program and the freedom to delete it, so there
+ is no need to state those as separate requirements.</li>
+ <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
+.165</a>: Clarify that arbitrary annoyances in the code do not
+ negate freedom 0, and that freedoms 1 and 3 enable users to remove them.</li>
+ <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
+.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
+ you from making it run.</li>
+ <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
+.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
+ <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
+.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
+ as you wish.</li>
+ <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
+.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
+ <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
+.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
+ of another program.</li>
+ <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
+.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
+ specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
+ <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
+.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
+ requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
+ <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
+.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
+ not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
+ to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
+ <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
+.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
+ retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
+ holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
+ work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
+ <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
+.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
+ (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
+ version for your computing.</li>
+ <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
+.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
+ <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
+.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
+ of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
+ in someone else's development project.</li>
+ <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
+.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
+ free software.</li>
+ <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
+.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
+ i.e., no tivoization.</li>
+ <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
+.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
+ unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
+ replacement.</li>
+ <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
+.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
+ in some places but not reflected everywhere:
+ <ul>
+ <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
+ substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
+ Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
+ <li>The right to merge in existing modules
+ refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
+ <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
+ <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <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
+.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
+ <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
+.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
+ the program for any purpose.</li>
+ <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
+.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
+ <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
+.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
+ available free software to create your modifications.</li>
+ <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
+.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
+ provide source for versions of the software you put into public
+ use.</li>
+ <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
+.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
+ identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
+ clarifications throughout the text.</li>
+ <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
+.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
+ licenses.</li>
+ <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
+.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
+ <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
+.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
+ versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
+ </ul>
+ <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
+ other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
+ interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
+ asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
+ You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
+ the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
+ interface</a>.</p>
+ <hr class="column-limit" />
+ <h3 class="footnote">Footnote</h3>
+ <ol>
+ <li id="f1">The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around
+there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized that
+ the freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned explicitly.
+ It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should
+ precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>
+ </ol>
+ </div>
+ </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
+ <div id="footer" role="contentinfo">
+ <div class="unprintable">
+ <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
+ <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
+ There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
+ the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
+ to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
+ <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
+         replace it with the translation of these two:
+         We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
+         translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
+         Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
+         to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
+         &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
+         <p>For information on coordinating and contributing translations of
+         our web pages, see <a
+         href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
+         README</a>. -->
+ Please see the <a
+ href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
+ README</a> for information on coordinating and contributing translations
+ of this article.</p>
+ </div>
+ <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
+      files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
+      be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
+      without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
+      Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
+      document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
+      document was modified, or published.
+      If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
+      Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
+      years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
+      year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
+      being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
+      There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
+      Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
+ <p>Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2019, 2021
+ Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
+ <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
+ href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
+ Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
+ <p class="unprintable">Updated:
  <!-- timestamp start -->
- $Date$ $Author$
+ $Date$
  <!-- timestamp end -->
- <HR>
+ </p>
- </BODY>
+ </div>
- </HTML>
+ </div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include -->
+ </body>
+ </html>

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