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<title>What is free software? |
<title>What is free software? |
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- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title> |
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<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" /> |
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<meta http-equiv="Description" content="Since 1983, developing the free Unix style operating system GNU, so that computer users can have the freedom to share and improve the software they use." /> |
<meta http-equiv="Description" content="Since 1983, developing the free Unix style operating system GNU, so that computer users can have the freedom to share and improve the software they use." /> |
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<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
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<div class="article"> |
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<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
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<blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%"> |
<blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%"> |
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Have a question about free software licensing not answered here? |
Have a question about free software licensing not answered here? |
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See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>, |
See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>, |
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at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p> |
at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p> |
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</blockquote> |
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<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
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<blockquote> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a |
The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a |
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particular software program qualifies as free software. From time to |
particular software program qualifies as free software. From time to |
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difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
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Why “Open Source” misses the point of Free Software</a>. |
Why “Open Source” misses the point of Free Software</a>. |
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</p> |
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</blockquote> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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“Free software” means software that respects users' |
“Free software” means software that respects users' |
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four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a> |
four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a> |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<ul> |
<ul class="important"> |
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<li>The freedom to run the program as you wish, |
<li>The freedom to run the program as you wish, |
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for any purpose (freedom 0).</li> |
for any purpose (freedom 0).</li> |
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<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 |
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word “open” <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
word “open” <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html"> |
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never refers to freedom</a>. |
never refers to freedom</a>. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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</div> |
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<h3 id="History">History</h3> |
<h3 id="History">History</h3> |
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