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3  <HEAD>  <title>What is free software?
4  <TITLE>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE>  - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
5  <LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org">  
6  </HEAD>  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
7  <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#9900DD">  <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." />
8  <H3>The Free Software Definition</H3>  
9    <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
10  <A HREF="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><IMG SRC="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg"  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
11     ALT=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] "  
12     WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
13    <!--#include virtual="/licenses/fsf-licensing.html" -->
14  [  
15  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
17  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <blockquote>
18  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  <p>
19  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
20  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
21  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
22  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
23  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
24  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  software.
25  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  </p>
26  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  </blockquote>
27  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  
28  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  <p>
29  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
30  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
31  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
32  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
33  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
34  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
35  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>  &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
36  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
37  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">Swedish</A>    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
38  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  is gratis.
39  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  </p>
40  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
41  ]  <p>
42  <P>  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
43    these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
44  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
45  true about a particular software program for it to be considered  program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
46  free software.  &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
47    users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
48  <P>  program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
49    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
50  ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the  </p>
51  concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in  
52  ``free beer.''  <p>
53  <P>  A program is free software if the program's users have the
54  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,  four essential freedoms:
55  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  </p>
56  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:  
57  <P>  <ul>
58      <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
59  <UL>        for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
60    <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
61    <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
62        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        code is a precondition for this.
63    <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    </li>
64      <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
65        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
66    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
67       to the public, so that the whole community benefits    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
68        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
69  </UL>        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
70          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
71  <P>    </li>
72  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  </ul>
73  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  
74  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  <p>
75  distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
76  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
77  have to ask or pay for permission.  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
78    being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
79    
80    <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
81    we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
82    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
83    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
84    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
85    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
86    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
87    
88    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
89    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
90    
91    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
92    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
93    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
94    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
95    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
96    for permission to do so.
97    </p>
98    
99  <P>  <p>
100  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
101  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
102  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
103  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
104    </p>
105    
106  <P>  <p>
107  The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
108  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
109  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
110  with the developer or any other specific entity.  with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
111    the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
112    purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
113    and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
114    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
115    </p>
116    
117    <p>
118    The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
119    forbidden or stopped from doing so.  It has nothing to do with what
120    functionality the program has, or whether it is useful for what you
121    want to do.</p>
122    
123  <P>  <p>
124  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
125  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
126  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
127  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
128  ok if there is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
129  certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
130  you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you find  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
131  or develop a way to make them.  make them.
132    </p>
133  <P>  
134  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  <p>
135  versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
136  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
137  condition for free software.  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
138    source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
139  <P>  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
140  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  as source code.
141  long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  </p>
142  power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give  
143    <p>
144    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
145    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
146    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
147    practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
148    or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
149    boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
150    practical reality.  These binaries are not free
151    software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
152    </p>
153    
154    <p>
155    One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
156    subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
157    cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
158    requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
159    license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
160    </p>
161    
162    <p>
163    Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
164    as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
165    releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
166    a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
167    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
168    as a free license.
169    </p>
170    
171    <p>
172    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
173    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
174    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
175    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
176  cause, the software is not free.  cause, the software is not free.
177    </p>
178    
179  <P>  <p>
180  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
181  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
182  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
183  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
184  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
185  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
186    protects them.
187  <P>  </p>
188  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you  
189  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  <p>
190  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
191  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
192  <P>  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
193    copyleft</a>.  However,
194  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
195  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
196  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
197  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
198    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
199  <P>  relate to each other.
200  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  </p>
201  don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.  
202  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  <p>
203  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
204  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
205  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
206  license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
207  and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one.  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
208    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
209  <P>  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
210  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
211  ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  </p>
212  <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">  
213  non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are  <p>
214  important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
215  better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free  If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
216  software, we can still use it.  someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
217    </p>
218  <P>  
219  See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software  <p>
220         (18k characters)</A>  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
221  for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
222  other categories of software relate to each other.  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
223    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
224  <P>  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
225  Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control  modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
226  regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
227  distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
228  not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
229  what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of  </p>
230  use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  
231  activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.  <p>
232    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
233  <P>  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
234  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
235  limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  saying that if you have distributed a
236  If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
237  above, it is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never  must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
238  anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some  whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
239  free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
240  impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there  are also acceptable.
241  are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably  </p>
242  restrictive and non-free.  
243  <P>  <p>
244  We can't possibly list all the possible contract restrictions that  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
245  would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
246  in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
247  isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
248  and we will probably decide it is non-free.  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
249  <P>  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
250  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  alias for the modified version.</p>
251  ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  
252  issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  <p>
253  ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
254  HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
255  that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
256  We also have a list of <A HREF="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations  eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
257  of "free software"</A> into various languages.  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
258    way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
259  <P>  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
260    must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
261    condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
262    </p>
263    
264    <p>
265    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
266    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
267    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
268    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
269    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
270    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
271    software nonfree.
272    </p>
273    
274    <p>
275    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
276    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
277    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
278    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
279    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
280    license nonfree.
281    </p>
282    
283    <p>
284    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
285    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
286    </p>
287    
288    <p>
289    Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
290    on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
291    copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
292    is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
293    (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
294    licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
295    range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
296    such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
297    </p>
298    
299    <p>
300    We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
301    contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
302    copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
303    legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
304    it is nonfree.
305    </p>
306    
307    <p>
308    When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
309    like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
310    the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
311    as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
312    <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
313    are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
314    a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
315    &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
316    </p>
317    
318    <p>
319  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
320  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
321  decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
322  software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
323  whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a  spirit as well as the precise words.  If a license includes unconscionable
324  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
325  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
326  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,  that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
327  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the  before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
328  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new  a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
329  issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
330  certain licenses do or don't qualify.  </p>
331    
332  <P>  <p>
333    If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
334  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
335  free software license, see our <A  of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
336  HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the  listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
337  license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us  <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
338  about it by sending us email at <A  </p>
339  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.  
340    <p>
341  <HR>  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
342    Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
343  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
344    for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
345  <P>  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
346  Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean  </p>
347  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the  
348  term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom  <p>
349  rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
350  to mind freedom</A>.  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
351    and avoid various practical problems.
352  <HR>  </p>
353  [  
354  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
355  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
356  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <p>
357  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
358  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
359  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  manuals are in effect part of the software.
360  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  </p>
361  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  
362  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  <p>
363  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
364  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
365  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  such as educational works and reference
366  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
367  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  example.
368  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  </p>
369  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  
370  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  <p>
371  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
372  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
373  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
374  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>        </p>
375  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  
376  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
377  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  
378  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  <p>
379  ]  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
380  <P>  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
381  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
382  <P>  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
383    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
384  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  never refers to freedom</a>.
385    </p>
386  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  
387  There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
388  contact</A> the FSF.  
389  <P>  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
390    the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
391  Please send comments on these web pages to  was changed.</p>
392    
393  <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,  <ul>
394  send other questions to  
395  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.140&amp;r2=1.141">Version
396  <P>  1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
397  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Free  
398  Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.134&amp;r2=1.135">Version
399  02111,  USA  1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
400  <P>  as you wish.</li>
401  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
402  permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.133&amp;r2=1.134">Version
403  <P>  1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
404  Updated:  
405    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.130&amp;r2=1.131">Version
406    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
407    of another program.</li>
408    
409    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.128&amp;r2=1.129">Version
410    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
411    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
412    
413    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.121&amp;r2=1.122">Version
414    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
415    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
416    
417    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.117&amp;r2=1.118">Version
418    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
419    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
420    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
421    
422    <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
423    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
424    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
425    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
426    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
427    
428    <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
429    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
430    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
431    version for your computing.</li>
432    
433    <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
434    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
435    
436    <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
437    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
438    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
439    in someone else's development project.</li>
440    
441    <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
442    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
443    free software.</li>
444    
445    <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
446    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
447    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
448    
449    <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
450    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
451    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
452    replacement.</li>
453    
454    <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
455    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
456    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
457    <ul>
458    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
459    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
460    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
461    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
462    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
463    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
464    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
465    </ul>
466    </li>
467    
468    <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
469    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
470    
471    <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
472    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
473    the program for any purpose.</li>
474    
475    <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
476    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
477    
478    <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
479    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
480    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
481    
482    <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
483    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
484    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
485    use.</li>
486    
487    <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
488    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
489    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
490    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
491    
492    <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
493    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
494    licenses.</li>
495    
496    <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
497    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
498    
499    <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
500    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
501    versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
502    
503    </ul>
504    
505    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
506    other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
507    interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
508    asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
509    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
510    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
511    interface</a>.</p>
512    
513    
514    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
515    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
516    <div id="footer">
517    <div class="unprintable">
518    
519    <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
520    <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
521    There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
522    the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
523    to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
524    
525    <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
526            replace it with the translation of these two:
527    
528            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
529            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
530            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
531            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
532            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
533    
534            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
535            our web pages, see <a
536            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
537            README</a>. -->
538    Please see the <a
539    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
540    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
541    of this article.</p>
542    </div>
543    
544    <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
545         files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
546         be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
547         without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
548         Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
549         document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
550         document was modified, or published.
551        
552         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
553         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
554         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
555         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
556         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
557        
558         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
559         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
560    
561    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2016
562    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
563    
564    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
565    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
566    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
567    
568    <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
569    
570    <p class="unprintable">Updated:
571  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
572  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
573  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
574  <HR>  </p>
575  </BODY>  </div>
576  </HTML>  </div>
577    </body>
578    </html>
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