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2  <HTML>  <!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 -->
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; to show we do not mean it is gratis.
37  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">Swedish</A>    </p>
38  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  
39  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  <p>
40  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
41  ]  these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
42  <P>  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
43    program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
44  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
45  true about a particular software program for it to be considered  users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
46  free software.  program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
47    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
48  <P>  </p>
49    
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  A program is free software if the program's users have the
52  ``free beer.''  four essential freedoms:
53  <P>  </p>
54  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,  
55  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  <ul>
56  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:    <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
57  <P>        for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
58      <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
59  <UL>        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
60    <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).        code is a precondition for this.
61    <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs    </li>
62        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
   <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor  
63        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
64    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
65       to the public, so that the whole community benefits    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
66        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
67  </UL>        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
68          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
69  <P>    </li>
70  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  </ul>
71  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  
72  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  <p>
73  distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
74  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
75  have to ask or pay for permission.  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
76    being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
77    
78    <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
79    we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
80    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
81    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
82    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
83    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
84    only A needs to be free; we can ignore B.</p>
85    
86    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
87    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
88    
89    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
90    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
91    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
92    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
93    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
94    for permission to do so.
95    </p>
96    
97  <P>  <p>
98  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
99  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
100  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
101  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
102    </p>
103    
104  <P>  <p>
105  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
106  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
107  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
108  with the developer or any other specific entity.  with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
109    the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
110    purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
111    and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
112    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
113    </p>
114    
115    <p>
116    The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
117    forbidden or stopped from doing so.  It has nothing to do with what
118    functionality the program has, or whether it is useful for what you
119    want to do.</p>
120    
121  <P>  <p>
122  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
123  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
124  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
125  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
126  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
127  certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
128  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
129  or develop a way to make them.  make them.
130    </p>
131  <P>  
132  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  <p>
133  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
134  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
135  condition for free software.  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
136    source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
137  <P>  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
138  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  as source code.
139  long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  </p>
140  power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give  
141    <p>
142    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
143    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
144    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
145    practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
146    or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
147    boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
148    practical reality.  These binaries are not free
149    software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
150    </p>
151    
152    <p>
153    One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
154    subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
155    cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
156    requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
157    license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
158    </p>
159    
160    <p>
161    Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
162    as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
163    releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
164    a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
165    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
166    as a free license.
167    </p>
168    
169    <p>
170    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
171    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
172    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
173    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
174  cause, the software is not free.  cause, the software is not free.
175    </p>
176    
177  <P>  <p>
178  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
179  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
180  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
181  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
182  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
183  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
184    protects them.
185  <P>  </p>
186  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you  
187  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  <p>
188  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
189  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
190  <P>  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
191    copyleft</a>.  However,
192  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
193  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
194  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
195  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
196    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
197  <P>  relate to each other.
198  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  </p>
199  don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.  
200  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  <p>
201  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
202  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
203  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
204  license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
205  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
206    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
207  <P>  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
208  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
209  ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  </p>
210  <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">  
211  non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are  <p>
212  important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
213  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
214  software, we can still use it.  someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
215    </p>
216  <P>  
217  See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software  <p>
218         (18k characters)</A>  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
219  for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
220  other categories of software relate to each other.  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
221    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
222  <P>  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
223  Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control  modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
224  regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
225  distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
226  not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
227  what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of  </p>
228  use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  
229  activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.  <p>
230    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
231  <P>  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
232  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
233  limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  saying that if you have distributed a
234  If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
235  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
236  anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some  whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
237  free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
238  impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there  are also acceptable.
239  are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably  </p>
240  restrictive and non-free.  
241  <P>  <p>
242  We can't possibly list all the possible contract restrictions that  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
243  would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
244  in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
245  isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
246  and we will probably decide it is non-free.  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
247  <P>  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
248  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  alias for the modified version.</p>
249  ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  
250  issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  <p>
251  ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
252  HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
253  that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
254  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
255  of "free software"</A> into various languages.  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
256    way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
257  <P>  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
258    must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
259    condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
260    </p>
261    
262    <p>
263    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
264    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
265    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
266    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
267    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
268    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
269    software nonfree.
270    </p>
271    
272    <p>
273    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
274    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
275    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
276    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
277    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
278    license nonfree.
279    </p>
280    
281    <p>
282    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
283    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
284    </p>
285    
286    <p>
287    Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
288    on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
289    copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
290    is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
291    (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
292    licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
293    range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
294    such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
295    </p>
296    
297    <p>
298    We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
299    contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
300    copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
301    legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
302    it is nonfree.
303    </p>
304    
305    <p>
306    When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
307    like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
308    the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
309    as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
310    <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
311    are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
312    a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
313    &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
314    </p>
315    
316    <p>
317  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
318  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
319  decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
320  software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
321  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
322  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
323  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
324  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,  that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
325  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the  before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
326  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new  a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
327  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.
328  certain licenses do or don't qualify.  </p>
329    
330  <P>  <p>
331    If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
332  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
333  free software license, see our <A  of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
334  HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the  listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
335  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>.
336  about it by sending us email at <A  </p>
337  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.  
338    <p>
339  <HR>  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
340    Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
341  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
342    for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
343  <P>  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
344  Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean  </p>
345  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the  
346  term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom  <p>
347  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
348  to mind freedom</A>.  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
349    and avoid various practical problems.
350  <HR>  </p>
351  [  
352  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
353  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
354  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <p>
355  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
356  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
357  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  manuals are in effect part of the software.
358  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  </p>
359  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  
360  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  <p>
361  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
362  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
363  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  such as educational works and reference
364  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
365  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  example.
366  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  </p>
367  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  
368  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  <p>
369  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
370  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
371  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
372  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>        </p>
373  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  
374  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
375  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  
376  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  <p>
377  ]  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
378  <P>  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
379  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
380  <P>  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
381    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
382  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  never refers to freedom</a>.
383    </p>
384  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  
385  There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
386  contact</A> the FSF.  
387  <P>  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
388    the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
389  Please send comments on these web pages to  was changed.</p>
390    
391  <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,  <ul>
392  send other questions to  
393  <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
394  <P>  1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
395  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Free  
396  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
397  02111,  USA  1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
398  <P>  as you wish.</li>
399  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
400  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
401  <P>  1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
402  Updated:  
403    <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
404    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
405    of another program.</li>
406    
407    <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
408    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
409    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
410    
411    <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
412    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
413    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
414    
415    <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
416    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
417    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
418    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
419    
420    <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
421    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
422    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
423    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
424    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
425    
426    <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
427    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
428    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
429    version for your computing.</li>
430    
431    <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
432    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
433    
434    <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
435    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
436    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
437    in someone else's development project.</li>
438    
439    <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
440    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
441    free software.</li>
442    
443    <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
444    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
445    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
446    
447    <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
448    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
449    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
450    replacement.</li>
451    
452    <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
453    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
454    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
455    <ul>
456    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
457    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
458    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
459    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
460    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
461    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
462    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
463    </ul>
464    </li>
465    
466    <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
467    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
468    
469    <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
470    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
471    the program for any purpose.</li>
472    
473    <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
474    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
475    
476    <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
477    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
478    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
479    
480    <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
481    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
482    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
483    use.</li>
484    
485    <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
486    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
487    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
488    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
489    
490    <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
491    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
492    licenses.</li>
493    
494    <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
495    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
496    
497    <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
498    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
499    versions you distribute to the author.</li>
500    
501    </ul>
502    
503    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
504    other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
505    interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
506    asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
507    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
508    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
509    interface</a>.</p>
510    
511    
512    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
513    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
514    <div id="footer">
515    <div class="unprintable">
516    
517    <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
518    <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
519    There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
520    the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
521    to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
522    
523    <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
524            replace it with the translation of these two:
525    
526            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
527            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
528            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
529            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
530            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
531    
532            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
533            our web pages, see <a
534            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
535            README</a>. -->
536    Please see the <a
537    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
538    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
539    of this article.</p>
540    </div>
541    
542    <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
543         files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
544         be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
545         without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
546         Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
547         document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
548         document was modified, or published.
549        
550         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
551         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
552         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
553         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
554         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
555        
556         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
557         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
558    
559    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996&ndash;2002, 2004&ndash;2007, 2009&ndash;2015
560    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
561    
562    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
563    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
564    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
565    
566    <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
567    
568    <p class="unprintable">Updated:
569  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
570  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
571  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
572  <HR>  </p>
573  </BODY>  </div>
574  </HTML>  </div>
575    </body>
576    </html>
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