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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" /> |
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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 name="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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software</b>. Thus, “free software” is a matter of |
software</b>. Thus, “free software” is a matter of |
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liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of |
liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of |
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“free” as in “free speech,” not as in |
“free” as in “free speech,” not as in |
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“free beer”. We sometimes call it “libre |
“free beer.” We sometimes call it “libre |
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software,” borrowing the French or Spanish word for |
software,” borrowing the French or Spanish word for |
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“free” as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software |
“free” as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software |
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is gratis. |
is gratis. |
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<h4 id="selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</h4> |
<h4 id="selling">Free software <em>can</em> be commercial</h4> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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“Free software” does not mean “noncommercial”. |
“Free software” does not mean “noncommercial.” |
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On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use, |
On the contrary, a free program must be available for commercial use, |
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commercial development, and commercial distribution. This policy is |
commercial development, and commercial distribution. This policy is |
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of fundamental importance—without this, free software could not |
of fundamental importance—without this, free software could not |
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with the developer or any other specific entity. In this freedom, it is |
with the developer or any other specific entity. In this freedom, it is |
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the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em> |
the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em> |
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purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes, |
purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes, |
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and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it |
and if you distribute it to other people, they are then free to run it for |
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for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her. |
their purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on them. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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Source code is defined as the preferred form of the program for making |
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changes in. Thus, whatever form a developer changes to develop |
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the program is the source code of that developer's version. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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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 |
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the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
263 |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours — a |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours—a |
264 |
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown”, |
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown,” |
265 |
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
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boot” — freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a |
boot”—freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a |
267 |
practical reality. These binaries are not free |
practical reality. These binaries are not free |
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software even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
software even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
269 |
</p> |
</p> |
271 |
<p> |
<p> |
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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 |
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subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
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cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module — for instance, if it |
cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module—for instance, if it |
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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 |
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license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
277 |
</p> |
</p> |
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<p> |
<p> |
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A free license may not require compliance with the license of a |
A free license may not require compliance with the license of a |
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nonfree program. Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to |
nonfree program. Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to |
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comply with the licenses of “all the programs you use”, in |
comply with the licenses of “all the programs you use,” in |
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the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require |
the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require |
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compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the |
compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the |
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license nonfree. |
license nonfree. |
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513 |
<p id="open-source"> |
<p id="open-source"> |
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Another group uses the term “open source” to mean |
Another group uses the term “open source” to mean |
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something close (but not identical) to “free software”. We |
something close (but not identical) to “free software.” We |
516 |
prefer the term “free software” because, once you have heard that |
prefer the term “free software” because, once you have heard that |
517 |
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 |
518 |
word “open” never refers to freedom. |
word “open” never refers to freedom. |
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529 |
<p> |
<p> |
530 |
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
531 |
practical use — that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
practical use—that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
532 |
such as educational works and reference |
such as educational works and reference |
533 |
works. <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
works. <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
534 |
example. |
example. |
625 |
1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated |
1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated |
626 |
in some places but not reflected everywhere: |
in some places but not reflected everywhere: |
627 |
<ul> |
<ul> |
628 |
<li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can |
<li>“Improvements” does not mean the license can |
629 |
substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release. |
substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release. |
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Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li> |
Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li> |
631 |
<li>The right to merge in existing modules |
<li>The right to merge in existing modules |
636 |
</li> |
</li> |
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<li><a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
<li><a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
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1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |
1.57</a>: Add “Beyond Software” section.</li> |
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<li><a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.45&r2=1.46">Version |
<li><a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.45&r2=1.46">Version |
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1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run |
1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run |
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There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers |
There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers |
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Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. --> |
Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. --> |
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<p>Copyright © 1996-2002, 2004-2019, 2021 |
<p>Copyright © 1996-2002, 2004-2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
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Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p> |
Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p> |
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<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" |
<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" |