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+revision 1.179 by th_g,
Sat Sep 11 09:37:22 2021 UTC
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+ <!-- Parent-Version: 1.96 -->
- <title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
+ <!-- This page is derived from /server/standards/boilerplate.html -->
+ <!--#set var="TAGS" value="essays aboutfs principles" -->
+ <!--#set var="DISABLE_TOP_ADDENDUM" value="yes" -->
+ <title>What is Free Software?
+ - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
+ <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!--
+ .toc > ul > li { list-style-type: none; font-weight: bold; }
+ .toc ul { font-weight: normal; }
+ #History ~ p, #History ~ ul { font-size: 1rem; }
+ --></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" />
  <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." />
- <link rel="alternate" title="What's New" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
- <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
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+ <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
+ <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/ph-breadcrumb.html" -->
+ <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE-->
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" -->
+ <div class="article reduced-width">
+ <h2>What is Free Software?</h2>
+ <div class="thin"></div>
- <h2>What is free software?</h2>
+ <div class="important">
- <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
- <blockquote>
  <p>
- The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
+ &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
- particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
+ freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
- time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
+ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
- about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
+ software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
- below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
+ liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
- software.
+ &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
+ &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
+ software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
+ &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
+ is gratis.
  </p>
- </blockquote>
  <p>
- &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
+ You may have paid money to get copies of a free program, or you may
- freedom and community.  Roughly, <b>the users have the freedom to run,
+ have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your
- copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software</b>.  With these
+ copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the software,
- freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the
+ even to <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
- program and what it does for them.
  </p>
+ </div>
  <p>
- When users don't control the program, the program controls the users.
+ We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
- The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users.
+ these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
- This nonfree or &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program is therefore an
+ the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
- instrument of unjust power.
+ program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
+ &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
+ users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
+ program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
+ an instrument of unjust power</a>.
  </p>
  <p>
- Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.
+ &ldquo;Open source&rdquo; is something different: it has a very
- To understand the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as
+ different philosophy based on different values.  Its practical
- in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.
+ 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" role="complementary">
+ <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">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:
+ four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a>
  </p>
- <ul>
+ <ul class="important">
-   <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
+   <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 your neighbor
+   <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others
        (freedom 2).
    </li>
    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
-Line 68 
 four essential freedoms:
+Line 147 
 four essential freedoms:
  </ul>
  <p>
- A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,
+ A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
- you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
+ freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
- modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
+ nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
- <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
+ being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
- things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
- for permission to do so.
+ <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>
- You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
+ We want to invite everyone to use the GNU system, including businesses
- privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
+ and their workers.  That requires allowing commercial use.  We hope
- exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
+ that free replacement programs will supplant comparable proprietary
- notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
+ 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">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
-Line 95 
 for her purposes, but you are not entitl
+Line 221 
 for her purposes, but you are not entitl
  </p>
  <p>
- The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
+ The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
- forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
+ forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
- unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
+ functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
- for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
+ functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
- is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
+ particular computing activity.</p>
- (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>For example, if the code arbitrarily rejects certain meaningful
- make them.
+ inputs&mdash;or even fails unconditionally&mdash;that may make the
- </p>
+ 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 must have
+ 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
-Line 117 
 as source code.
+Line 254 
 as source code.
  <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
+ run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours&mdash;a
- practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
+ 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 a theoretical fiction rather
+ boot&rdquo;&mdash;freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
- than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,
+ practical reality.  These binaries are not free
- these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are
+ software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
- 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
+ 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
+ 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>
+ 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>
  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
- a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
+ 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>
- In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
+ The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
- irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
+ forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
- software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
+ unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
- restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
+ for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
- cause, the software is not free.
+ is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
+ (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
+ make them.
  </p>
+ <h4 id="copyleft">Copyleft</h4>
  <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>
- &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
+ In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
- program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
+ legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
- and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
+ <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
- is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
+ copyleft</a>.  However,
- You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
+ <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
- obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
+ noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
- you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
+ too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
- <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
+ Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
+ &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
+ relate to each other.
  </p>
- <p>
+ <h4 id="packaging">Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
- 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>
- However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
+ Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
  Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
-Line 190 
 the program, so you won't have trouble m
+Line 360 
 the program, so you won't have trouble m
  </p>
  <p>
- A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
- which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
- effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
- can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
- sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
- facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
- alias for the modified version.</p>
- <p>
  Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
-Line 211 
 are also acceptable.
+Line 372 
 are also acceptable.
  </p>
  <p>
- In the GNU project, we use
+ A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
- <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
+ which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
- to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
+ effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
- <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted
+ can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
- free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
+ sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
- <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
+ facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
- but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically
+ alias for the modified version.</p>
- ethical. (See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software relate to each other.)
- </p>
+ <h4 id="exportcontrol">Export regulations</h4>
  <p>
- Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
+ Sometimes government export control regulations
  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
  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
  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
- must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of
+ must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
- any of the essential freedoms.
+ condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
+ them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
+ not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
+ free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
+ problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
+ export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
+ software nonfree.
+ </p>
+ <h4 id="legal-details">Legal considerations</h4>
+ <p>
+ In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
+ irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
+ software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
+ restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
+ cause, the software is not free.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
+ nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
+ comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use,&rdquo; in
+ the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
+ compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
+ license nonfree.
  </p>
  <p>
+ It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
+ law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
+ </p>
+ <h4 id="contracts">Contract-based licenses</h4>
+ <p>
  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
-Line 252 
 legitimate, we will have to think about
+Line 449 
 legitimate, we will have to think about
  it is nonfree.
  </p>
- <p>
+ <h3 id="in-practice">The Free Software Definition in Practice</h3>
- 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
+ <h4 id="interpretation">How we interpret these criteria</h4>
- 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>
- Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
+ Note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
-Line 277 
 a conclusion about a new issue, we often
+Line 467 
 a conclusion about a new issue, we often
  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
  </p>
+ <h4 id="get-help">Get help with free licenses</h4>
  <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
-Line 299 
 help you can ensure that the license rea
+Line 491 
 help you can ensure that the license rea
  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">Beyond Software</h3>
  <p>
-Line 309 
 manuals are in effect part of the softwa
+Line 522 
 manuals are in effect part of the softwa
  <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,
+ practical use&mdash;that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
  such as educational works and reference
- works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
+ works.  <a href="https://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
  example.
  </p>
-Line 321 
 has been extended to a definition of <a
+Line 534 
 has been extended to a definition of <a
  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
  </p>
- <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
- <p>
- Another group has started using 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; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
- never refers to freedom</a>.
- </p>
  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
- the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was
+ the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
- changed.</p>
+ was changed.</p>
  <ul>
- <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
+ <li><a href="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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>
-Line 386 
 refers to those that are suitably licens
+Line 629 
 refers to those that are suitably licens
  </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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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
+ <li><a href="//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 the author.</li>
+ 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 as such.
+ other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
- These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the
+ interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
- complete list of changes to the page through
+ asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
- the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
+ You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
+ the <a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
  interface</a>.</p>
+ <div class="column-limit"></div>
+ <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">
- <div id="footer">
+ <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
- <p>
- Please send 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.
+ the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
- <br />
+ to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
- Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
- <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
+ <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
- </p>
+         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>
- <p>
+ <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
- Please see the
+      files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
- <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
+      be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
- README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
+      without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
- translations of this article.
+      Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
- </p>
+      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, 2004-2019, 2021
+ Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
- <p>
- Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 Free Software
- Foundation, Inc.
- </p>
  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
- href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
+ href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
- Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.
+ Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
- </p>
  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
- <p>Updated:
+ <p class="unprintable">Updated:
  <!-- timestamp start -->
  $Date$
  <!-- timestamp end -->
  </p>
  </div>
+ </div><!-- for class="inner", starts in the banner include -->
- </div>
  </body>
  </html>

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