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# Line 12  Line 12 
12     WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>     WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>
13    
14  [  [
15    <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
16    <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
17    <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>
18    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>
19    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>
20  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>
21  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>
22  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>
23    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>
24    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>
25    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>
26    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>
27  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>
28  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>
29  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>
30  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>
31    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>
32  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>
33    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>
34  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>
35    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>
36  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>
37    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">Swedish</A>  
38  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>
39    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
40    <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
41  ]  ]
42  <P>  <P>
43    
# Line 49  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for Line 63  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for
63    <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
64        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
65    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
66       to the public, so that the whole community benefits.       to the public, so that the whole community benefits
67        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
68  </UL>  </UL>
69    
# Line 76  with the developer or any other specific Line 90  with the developer or any other specific
90  <P>  <P>
91  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
92  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
93  unmodified versions.  It is ok if there is no way to produce a binary  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is
94  or executable form, but people must have the freedom to redistribute  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is
95  such forms should they find a way to make them.  ok if there is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a
96    certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but
97    you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you find
98    or develop a way to make them.
99    
100  <P>  <P>
101  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved
# Line 101  other people the central freedoms.  This Line 118  other people the central freedoms.  This
118  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.
119    
120  <P>  <P>
121  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of GNU software, or you  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you
122  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got
123  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the
124  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.
   
125  <P>  <P>
126    
127  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program
128  must be available for commercial use.  Commercial development of free  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and
129  software is no longer unusual; such programs are free commercial  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is
130  software.  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
131    
132  <P>  <P>
133  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they
# Line 118  don't effectively block your freedom to Line 135  don't effectively block your freedom to
135  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must
136  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the
137  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
138  whether to publish the program or not.)  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the
139    license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version
140    and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one.
141    
142  <P>  <P>
143  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">
# Line 163  software license, we judge it based on t Line 182  software license, we judge it based on t
182  whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a  whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a
183  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we
184  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license
185  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought before we  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,
186  can decide if the requirement is acceptable, including discussions  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the
187  with a lawyer.  When we reach a conclusion, we sometimes update these  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new
188  criteria to make it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't  issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why
189  qualify.  certain licenses do or don't qualify.
190    
191  <P>  <P>
192    
193  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a
194  free software license, see our <A  free software license, see our <A
195  HREF="/philosophy/license-list.html"> list of licenses </A>.  If the  HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the
196  license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us  license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us
197  about it by sending us email at <A  about it by sending us email at <A
198  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.
# Line 183  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;lice Line 202  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;lice
202  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>
203    
204  <P>  <P>
205  Another group has started using the term <A  Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean
206  HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html"> open source</A> to mean  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the
207  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom
208    rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls
209    to mind freedom</A>.
210    
211  <HR>  <HR>
212    [
213    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
214    <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
215    <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>
216    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>
217    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>
218    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>
219    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>
220    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>
221    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>
222    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>
223    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>
224    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>
225    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>
226    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>
227    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>
228    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>
229    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>
230    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>
231    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>
232    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>
233    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>      
234    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>
235    | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>
236    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->
237    <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->
238    ]
239    <P>
240  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.
241  <P>  <P>
242  FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  
243    Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to
244    
245  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
246  Other <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">ways to contact</A> the FSF.  There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to
247    contact</A> the FSF.
248  <P>  <P>
249  Comments on these web pages to  
250  <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@www.gnu.org</EM></A>,  Please send comments on these web pages to
251    
252    <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,
253  send other questions to  send other questions to
254  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
255  <P>  <P>
256  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Free
257  59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111,  USA  Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA
258    02111,  USA
259  <P>  <P>
260  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
261  permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.<P>  permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
262    <P>
263  Updated:  Updated:
264  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
265  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$ $Author$
# Line 212  $Date$ $Author$ Line 267  $Date$ $Author$
267  <HR>  <HR>
268  </BODY>  </BODY>
269  </HTML>  </HTML>
270    
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