| 29 |
software</b>. Thus, “free software” is a matter of |
software</b>. Thus, “free software” is a matter of |
| 30 |
liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of |
liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of |
| 31 |
“free” as in “free speech,” not as in |
“free” as in “free speech,” not as in |
| 32 |
“free beer”. We sometimes call it “libre |
“free beer.” We sometimes call it “libre |
| 33 |
software,” borrowing the French or Spanish word for |
software,” borrowing the French or Spanish word for |
| 34 |
“free” as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software |
“free” as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software |
| 35 |
is gratis. |
is gratis. |
| 164 |
<h4 id="selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</h4> |
<h4 id="selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</h4> |
| 165 |
|
|
| 166 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 167 |
“Free software” does not mean “noncommercial”. |
“Free software” does not mean “noncommercial.” |
| 168 |
On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use, |
On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use, |
| 169 |
commercial development, and commercial distribution. This policy is |
commercial development, and commercial distribution. This policy is |
| 170 |
of fundamental importance—without this, free software could not |
of fundamental importance—without this, free software could not |
| 254 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 255 |
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 |
| 256 |
the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
| 257 |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours — a |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours—a |
| 258 |
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown”, |
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown,” |
| 259 |
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
| 260 |
boot” — freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a |
boot”—freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a |
| 261 |
practical reality. These binaries are not free |
practical reality. These binaries are not free |
| 262 |
software even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
software even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
| 263 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 265 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 266 |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free |
| 267 |
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
| 268 |
cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module — for instance, if it |
cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module—for instance, if it |
| 269 |
requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add — then the |
requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add—then the |
| 270 |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
| 271 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 272 |
|
|
| 417 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 418 |
A free license may not require compliance with the license of a |
A free license may not require compliance with the license of a |
| 419 |
nonfree program. Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to |
nonfree program. Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to |
| 420 |
comply with the licenses of “all the programs you use”, in |
comply with the licenses of “all the programs you use,” in |
| 421 |
the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require |
the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require |
| 422 |
compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the |
compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the |
| 423 |
license nonfree. |
license nonfree. |
| 506 |
|
|
| 507 |
<p id="open-source"> |
<p id="open-source"> |
| 508 |
Another group uses the term “open source” to mean |
Another group uses the term “open source” to mean |
| 509 |
something close (but not identical) to “free software”. We |
something close (but not identical) to “free software.” We |
| 510 |
prefer the term “free software” because, once you have heard that |
prefer the term “free software” because, once you have heard that |
| 511 |
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 |
| 512 |
word “open” never refers to freedom. |
word “open” never refers to freedom. |
| 522 |
|
|
| 523 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 524 |
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
| 525 |
practical use — that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
practical use—that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
| 526 |
such as educational works and reference |
such as educational works and reference |
| 527 |
works. <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
works. <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
| 528 |
example. |
example. |