/[www]/www/philosophy/free-sw.html
ViewVC logotype

Diff of /www/philosophy/free-sw.html

Parent Directory Parent Directory | Revision Log Revision Log | View Patch Patch

revision 1.23 by rms, Tue Feb 17 12:12:30 2004 UTC revision 1.153 by rms, Tue Apr 4 07:57:57 2017 UTC
# Line 1  Line 1 
1  <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML 2.0//EN">  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2  <HTML>  <!-- Parent-Version: 1.79 -->
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    
14  [  <blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%">
15  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?
16  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>,
17  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  and if necessary contact the FSF Compliance Lab
18  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p>
19  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  </blockquote>
20  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  
21  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
22  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  
23  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  <blockquote>
24  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  <p>
25  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
26  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
27  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
28  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
29  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
30  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  software.
31  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  </p>
32  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  </blockquote>
33  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  
34  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  <p>
35  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
36  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
37  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">Swedish</A>    freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
38  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
39  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
40  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
41  ]  &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
42  <P>  software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
43    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
44  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  is gratis.
45  true about a particular software program for it to be considered  </p>
46  free software.  
47    <p>
48  <P>  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
49    these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
50  ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
51  concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in  program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
52  ``free beer.''  &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
53  <P>  users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
54  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,  program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
55  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  an instrument of unjust power</a>.
56  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:  </p>
57  <P>  
58    <h4> The four essential freedoms</h4>
59  <UL>  
60    <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).  <p>
61    <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs  A program is free software if the program's users have the
62        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.  four essential freedoms:
63    <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor  </p>
64    
65    <ul>
66      <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
67          for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
68      <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
69          does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
70          code is a precondition for this.
71      </li>
72      <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
73        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
74    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
75       to the public, so that the whole community benefits    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
76        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
77  </UL>        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
78          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
79  <P>    </li>
80  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  </ul>
81  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  
82  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  <p>
83  distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
84  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
85  have to ask or pay for permission.  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
86    being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
87    
88    <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
89    we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
90    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
91    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
92    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
93    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
94    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
95    
96    <p>
97    &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
98    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
99    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
100    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
101    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
102    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
103    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
104    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
105    </p>
106    
107    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
108    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
109    
110    <h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
111    
112    <p>
113    The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
114    or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
115    overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
116    with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
117    the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
118    purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
119    and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
120    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
121    </p>
122    
123    <p>
124    The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
125    forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
126    functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
127    functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
128    particular computing activity.</p>
129    
130    <h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
131    
132    <p>
133    In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
134    freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
135    access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
136    source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
137    &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
138    as source code.
139    </p>
140    
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    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
162    If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
163    someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
164    </p>
165    
166    <h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4>
167    
168    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
169    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
170    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
171    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
172    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
173    for permission to do so.
174    </p>
175    
176  <P>  <p>
177  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
178  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
179  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
180  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
181    </p>
182    
183  <P>  <p>
184  The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
185  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
186  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
187  with the developer or any other specific entity.  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
188    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
189    as a free license.
190    </p>
191    
192  <P>  <p>
193  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
194  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
195  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
196  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
197  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
198  certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
199  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
200  or develop a way to make them.  make them.
201    </p>
202  <P>  
203  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  <h4>Copyleft</h4>
 versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  
 the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  
 condition for free software.  
   
 <P>  
 In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  
 long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  
 power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give  
 cause, the software is not free.  
204    
205  <P>  <p>
206  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
207  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
208  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
209  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
210  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
211  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
212    protects them.
213  <P>  </p>
214  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you  
215  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  <p>
216  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
217  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
218  <P>  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
219    copyleft</a>.  However,
220  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
221  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
222  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
223  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
224    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
225  <P>  relate to each other.
226  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  </p>
227  don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.  
228  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  <h4>Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
229  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  
230  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  <p>
231  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
232  license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
233  and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one.  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
234    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
235  <P>  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
236  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
237  ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
238  <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
239  non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
240  important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  </p>
241  better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free  
242  software, we can still use it.  <p>
243    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
244  <P>  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
245  See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
246         (18k characters)</A>  saying that if you have distributed a
247  for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
248  other categories of software relate to each other.  must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
249    whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
250  <P>  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
251  Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control  are also acceptable.
252  regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  </p>
253  distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  
254  not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  <p>
255  what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
256  use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
257  activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
258    can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
259  <P>  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
260  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
261  limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  alias for the modified version.</p>
262  If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described  
263  above, it is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never  <h4>Export regulations</h4>
264  anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some  
265  free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can  <p>
266  impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
267  are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
268  restrictive and non-free.  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
269  <P>  eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
270  We can't possibly list all the possible contract restrictions that  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
271  would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
272  in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
273  isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
274  and we will probably decide it is non-free.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
275  <P>  </p>
276  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  
277  ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  <p>
278  issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
279  ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A  them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
280  HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
281  that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.  free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
282  We also have a list of <A HREF="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations  problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
283  of "free software"</A> into various languages.  export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
284    software nonfree.
285    </p>
286    
287    <h4>Legal considerations</h4>
288    
289    <p>
290    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
291    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
292    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
293    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
294    cause, the software is not free.
295    </p>
296    
297    <p>
298    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
299    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
300    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
301    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
302    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
303    license nonfree.
304    </p>
305    
306    <p>
307    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
308    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
309    </p>
310    
311    <h4>Contract-based licenses</h4>
312    
313    <p>
314    Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
315    on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
316    copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
317    is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
318    (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
319    licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
320    range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
321    such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
322    </p>
323    
324    <p>
325    We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
326    contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
327    copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
328    legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
329    it is nonfree.
330    </p>
331    
332    <h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
333    
334    <p>
335    When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
336    like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
337    the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
338    as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
339    <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
340    are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
341    a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
342    &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
343    </p>
344    
345  <P>  <h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4>
346    
347    <p>
348  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
349  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
350  decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
351  software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
352  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
353  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
354  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
355  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,  that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
356  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the  before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
357  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new  a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
358  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.
359  certain licenses do or don't qualify.  </p>
360    
361  <P>  <h4>Get help with free licenses</h4>
362    
363  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  <p>
364  free software license, see our <A  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
365  HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
366  license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us  of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
367  about it by sending us email at <A  listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
368  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.  <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
369    </p>
370  <HR>  
371    <p>
372  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
373    Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
374  <P>  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
375  Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean  for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
376  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
377  term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom  </p>
378  rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls  
379  to mind freedom</A>.  <p>
380    If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
381  <HR>  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
382  [  and avoid various practical problems.
383  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  </p>
384  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
385  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
386  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  
387  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  <p>
388  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
389  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
390  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  manuals are in effect part of the software.
391  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  </p>
392  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  
393  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  <p>
394  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
395  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
396  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  such as educational works and reference
397  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
398  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  example.
399  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  </p>
400  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  
401  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  <p>
402  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
403  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>        has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
404  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
405  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  </p>
406  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  
407  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
408  ]  
409  <P>  <p>
410  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
411  <P>  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
412    prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
413  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
414    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
415  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
416  There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to  </p>
417  contact</A> the FSF.  
418  <P>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
419    
420  Please send comments on these web pages to  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
421    the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
422  <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,  was changed.</p>
423  send other questions to  
424  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  <ul>
425  <P>  
426  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Free  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.152&amp;r2=1.153">Version
427  Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
428  02111,  USA  you from making it run.</li>
429  <P>  
430  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <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
431  permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.  1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
432  <P>  
433  Updated:  <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
434    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
435    as you wish.</li>
436    
437    <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
438    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
439    
440    <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
441    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
442    of another program.</li>
443    
444    <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
445    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
446    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
447    
448    <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
449    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
450    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
451    
452    <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
453    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
454    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
455    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
456    
457    <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
458    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
459    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
460    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
461    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
462    
463    <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
464    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
465    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
466    version for your computing.</li>
467    
468    <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
469    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
470    
471    <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
472    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
473    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
474    in someone else's development project.</li>
475    
476    <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
477    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
478    free software.</li>
479    
480    <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
481    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
482    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
483    
484    <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
485    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
486    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
487    replacement.</li>
488    
489    <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
490    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
491    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
492    <ul>
493    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
494    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
495    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
496    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
497    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
498    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
499    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
500    </ul>
501    </li>
502    
503    <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
504    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
505    
506    <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
507    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
508    the program for any purpose.</li>
509    
510    <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
511    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
512    
513    <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
514    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
515    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
516    
517    <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
518    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
519    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
520    use.</li>
521    
522    <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
523    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
524    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
525    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
526    
527    <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
528    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
529    licenses.</li>
530    
531    <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
532    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
533    
534    <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
535    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
536    versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
537    
538    </ul>
539    
540    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
541    other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
542    interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
543    asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
544    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
545    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
546    interface</a>.</p>
547    
548    
549    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
550    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
551    <div id="footer">
552    <div class="unprintable">
553    
554    <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
555    <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
556    There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
557    the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
558    to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
559    
560    <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
561            replace it with the translation of these two:
562    
563            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
564            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
565            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
566            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
567            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
568    
569            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
570            our web pages, see <a
571            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
572            README</a>. -->
573    Please see the <a
574    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
575    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
576    of this article.</p>
577    </div>
578    
579    <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
580         files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
581         be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
582         without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
583         Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
584         document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
585         document was modified, or published.
586        
587         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
588         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
589         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
590         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
591         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
592        
593         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
594         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
595    
596    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2016
597    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
598    
599    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
600    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
601    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
602    
603    <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
604    
605    <p class="unprintable">Updated:
606  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
607  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
608  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
609  <HR>  </p>
610  </BODY>  </div>
611  </HTML>  </div>
612    </body>
613    </html>
Legend:
Removed from v.1.23  
changed lines
  Added in v.1.153
savannah-hackers-public@gnu.org
 ViewVC Help
Powered by ViewVC 1.1.26