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8  <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!--  <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!--
9  .toc > ul > li { list-style-type: none; font-weight: bold; }  .toc > ul > li { list-style-type: none; font-weight: bold; }
10  .toc ul { font-weight: normal; }  .toc ul { font-weight: normal; }
11  .note { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; }  #History ~ p, #History ~ ul { font-size: 1rem; }
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12  --></style>  --></style>
13  <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 name="keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
14  <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." />
15  <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->  <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
16  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
17  <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/ph-breadcrumb.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/ph-breadcrumb.html" -->
18  <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE-->  <!--GNUN: OUT-OF-DATE NOTICE-->
19  <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/top-addendum.html" -->
20    <div class="article reduced-width">
21  <h2>What is Free Software?</h2>  <h2>What is Free Software?</h2>
22  <div class="thin"></div>  <div class="thin"></div>
23    
 <div class="article">  
24  <div class="important">  <div class="important">
25  <p>  <p>
26  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
# Line 32  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, Line 29  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study,
29  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; 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  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
32  &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre  &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
33  software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for  software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
34  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
35  is gratis.  is gratis.
# Line 105  Why &ldquo;Open Source&rdquo; misses the Line 102  Why &ldquo;Open Source&rdquo; misses the
102  </ul>  </ul>
103  </div>  </div>
104    
105  <div class="edu-note" id="fsf-licensing">  <div class="edu-note" id="fsf-licensing" role="complementary">
106  <p style="font-size:80%">  <p style="font-size:80%">
107  Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?  Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?
108  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>,
# Line 115  at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">li Line 112  at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">li
112  </div>  </div>
113    
114    
115  <h3 id="fs-definition" class="subheader">The Free Software Definition</h3>  <h3 id="fs-definition">The Free Software Definition</h3>
116    
117  <p>  <p>
118  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
# Line 167  only A needs to be free; B is not pertin Line 164  only A needs to be free; B is not pertin
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  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;
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&mdash;without this, free software could not  of fundamental importance&mdash;without this, free software could not
# Line 204  renders the program nonfree. Line 201  renders the program nonfree.
201  </p>  </p>
202    
203    
204  <h3 id="clarifying" class="subheader">Clarifying the Boundary Between Free and Nonfree</h3>  <h3 id="clarifying">Clarifying the Boundary Between Free and Nonfree</h3>
205    
206  <p>In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far the  <p>In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far the
207  various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a  various freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for a
# Line 219  overall job and purpose, without being r Line 216  overall job and purpose, without being r
216  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
217  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>
218  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,
219  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
220  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.
221  </p>  </p>
222    
223  <p>  <p>
# Line 255  as source code. Line 252  as source code.
252  </p>  </p>
253    
254  <p>  <p>
255    Source code is defined as the preferred form of the program for making
256    changes in.  Thus, whatever form a developer changes to develop
257    the program is the source code of that developer's version.
258    </p>
259    
260    <p>
261  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
262  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 &mdash; a  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours&mdash;a
264  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown,&rdquo;
265  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
266  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a  boot&rdquo;&mdash;freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
267  practical reality.  These binaries are not free  practical reality.  These binaries are not free
268  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>
# Line 268  software even if the source code they ar Line 271  software even if the source code they ar
271  <p>  <p>
272  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
273  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
274  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
275  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
276  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
277  </p>  </p>
278    
# Line 420  cause, the software is not free. Line 423  cause, the software is not free.
423  <p>  <p>
424  A free license may not require compliance with the license of a  A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
425  nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to  nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
426  comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in  comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use,&rdquo; in
427  the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require  the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
428  compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the  compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
429  license nonfree.  license nonfree.
# Line 452  legitimate, we will have to think about Line 455  legitimate, we will have to think about
455  it is nonfree.  it is nonfree.
456  </p>  </p>
457    
458  <h3 id="in-practice" class="subheader">The Free Software Definition in Practice</h3>  <h3 id="in-practice">The Free Software Definition in Practice</h3>
459    
460  <h4 id="interpretation">How we interpret these criteria</h4>  <h4 id="interpretation">How we interpret these criteria</h4>
461    
# Line 509  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs Line 512  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs
512    
513  <p id="open-source">  <p id="open-source">
514  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
515  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We
516  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;open&rdquo; never refers to freedom.  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; never refers to freedom.
519  </p>  </p>
520    
521  <h3 id="beyond-software" class="subheader">Beyond Software</h3>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
522    
523  <p>  <p>
524  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
# Line 525  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 528  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
528    
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 &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use&mdash;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.
# Line 536  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, a Line 539  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, a
539  has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">  has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
540  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
541  </p>  </p>
 <hr class="column-limit" />  
 </div>  
542    
543  <h3 id="History">History</h3>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
544    
# Line 624  replacement.</li> Line 625  replacement.</li>
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>&ldquo;Improvements&rdquo; 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.
630  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
# Line 635  refers to those that are suitably licens Line 636  refers to those that are suitably licens
636  </li>  </li>
637    
638  <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  <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
639  1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>  1.57</a>: Add &ldquo;Beyond Software&rdquo; section.</li>
640    
641  <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  <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
642  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
# Line 678  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuatio Line 679  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuatio
679  You can review the complete list of changes to the page through  You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
680  the <a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb  the <a href="//web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
681  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
682  <hr class="column-limit" />  <div class="column-limit"></div>
683    
684  <h3 class="footnote">Footnote</h3>  <h3 class="footnote">Footnote</h3>
685  <ol>  <ol>
# Line 688  the freedom to run the program needed to Line 689  the freedom to run the program needed to
689  It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should  It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should
690  precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>  precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>
691  </ol>  </ol>
692    </div>
693    
694  </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->  </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
695  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
# Line 736  of this article.</p> Line 738  of this article.</p>
738       There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers       There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
739       Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->       Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
740    
741  <p>Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2019, 2021  <p>Copyright &copy; 1996-2002, 2004-2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
742  Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>  Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
743    
744  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
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