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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">  <style type="text/css" media="print,screen"><!--
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7  <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#9900DD">  @media (min-width: 48em) {
8  <H3>The Free Software Definition</H3>     .note { margin-top: .8em; }
9    }
10  <A HREF="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><IMG SRC="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg"  --></style>
11     ALT=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] "  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
12     WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>  <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." />
13    
14  [  <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
15  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
16  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
17  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
18  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  
19  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  <div class="article">
20  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
21  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  
22  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  <blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%">
23  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?
24  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>,
25  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  and if necessary contact the FSF Compliance Lab
26  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p>
27  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  </blockquote>
28  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  
29  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  <div class="comment">
30  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  <p>
31  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
32  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
33  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
34  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
35  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
36  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  software.
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! -->  &ldquo;Open source&rdquo; is something different: it has a very
41  ]  different philosophy based on different values.  Its practical
42  <P>  definition is different too, but nearly all open source programs are
43    in fact free.  We explain the
44  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  difference in <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
45  true about a particular software program for it to be considered  Why &ldquo;Open Source&rdquo; misses the point of Free Software</a>.
46  free software.  </p>
47    </div>
48  <P>  
49    <p>
50  ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
51  concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
52  ``free beer.''  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
53  <P>  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
54  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,  liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
55  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
56  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:  &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
57  <P>  software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
58    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
59  <UL>  is gratis.
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  
62        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.  <p>
63    <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
64    these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
65    the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
66    program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
67    &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
68    users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
69    program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
70    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
71    </p>
72    
73    <h4> The four essential freedoms</h4>
74    
75    <p>
76    A program is free software if the program's users have the
77    four essential freedoms: <a href="#f1">[1]</a>
78    </p>
79    
80    <ul class="important">
81      <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
82          for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
83      <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
84          does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
85          code is a precondition for this.
86      </li>
87      <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others
88        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
89    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
90       to the public, so that the whole community benefits    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
91        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
92  </UL>        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
93          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
94  <P>    </li>
95  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  </ul>
96  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  
97  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  <p>
98  distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
99  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
100  have to ask or pay for permission.  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
101    being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
102    
103    <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
104    we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
105    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
106    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
107    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
108    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
109    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
110    
111    <p>
112    &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
113    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
114    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
115    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
116    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
117    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
118    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
119    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
120    </p>
121    
122    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
123    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
124    
125    <h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
126    
127    <p>
128    The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
129    or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
130    overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
131    with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
132    the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
133    purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
134    and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
135    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
136    </p>
137    
138    <p>
139    The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
140    forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
141    functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
142    functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
143    particular computing activity.</p>
144    
145    <h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
146    
147    <p>
148    In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
149    freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
150    access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
151    source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
152    &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
153    as source code.
154    </p>
155    
156    <p>
157    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
158    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
159    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
160    practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
161    or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
162    boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
163    practical reality.  These binaries are not free
164    software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
165    </p>
166    
167    <p>
168    One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
169    subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
170    cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
171    requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
172    license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
173    </p>
174    
175    <p>
176    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
177    If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
178    someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
179    </p>
180    
181    <h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4>
182    
183    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
184    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
185    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
186    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
187    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
188    for permission to do so.
189    </p>
190    
191  <P>  <p>
192  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
193  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
194  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
195  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
196    </p>
197    
198  <P>  <p>
199  The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
200  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
201  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
202  with the developer or any other specific entity.  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
203    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
204    as a free license.
205    </p>
206    
207  <P>  <p>
208  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
209  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
210  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
211  necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
212  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
213  certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
214  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
215  or develop a way to make them.  make them.
216    </p>
217  <P>  
218  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.  
219    
220  <P>  <p>
221  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
222  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
223  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
224  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
225  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
226  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
227    protects them.
228  <P>  </p>
229  Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you  
230  may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  <p>
231  your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
232  software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
233  <P>  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
234    copyleft</a>.  However,
235  ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
236  must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and  noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
237  commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is  too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
238  no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
239    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
240  <P>  relate to each other.
241  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  </p>
242  don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.  
243  Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  <h4>Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
244  make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  
245  same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  <p>
246  whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the  Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
247  license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
248  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.
249    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
250  <P>  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
251  In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
252  ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
253  <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
254  non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
255  important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  </p>
256  better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free  
257  software, we can still use it.  <p>
258    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
259  <P>  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
260  See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
261         (18k characters)</A>  saying that if you have distributed a
262  for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
263  other categories of software relate to each other.  must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
264    whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
265  <P>  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
266  Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control  are also acceptable.
267  regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  </p>
268  distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  
269  not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  <p>
270  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
271  use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
272  activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
273    can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
274  <P>  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
275  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
276  limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  alias for the modified version.</p>
277  If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described  
278  above, it is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never  <h4>Export regulations</h4>
279  anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some  
280  free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can  <p>
281  impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
282  are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably  and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
283  restrictive and non-free.  programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
284  <P>  eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
285  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
286  would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
287  in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
288  isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
289  and we will probably decide it is non-free.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
290  <P>  </p>
291  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  
292  ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  <p>
293  issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
294  ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A  them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
295  HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
296  that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.  free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
297  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
298  of "free software"</A> into various languages.  export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
299    software nonfree.
300    </p>
301    
302    <h4>Legal considerations</h4>
303    
304    <p>
305    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
306    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
307    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
308    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
309    cause, the software is not free.
310    </p>
311    
312    <p>
313    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
314    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
315    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
316    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
317    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
318    license nonfree.
319    </p>
320    
321    <p>
322    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
323    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
324    </p>
325    
326    <h4>Contract-based licenses</h4>
327    
328    <p>
329    Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
330    on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
331    copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
332    is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
333    (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
334    licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
335    range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
336    such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
337    </p>
338    
339    <p>
340    We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
341    contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
342    copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
343    legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
344    it is nonfree.
345    </p>
346    
347    <h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
348    
349    <p>
350    When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
351    like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
352    the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
353    as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
354    <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
355    are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
356    a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
357    &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
358    </p>
359    
360  <P>  <h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4>
361    
362    <p>
363  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
364  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
365  decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free  whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
366  software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine  we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
367  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
368  license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we  restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
369  did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license  in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
370  requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,  that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
371  including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the  before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
372  requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new  a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
373  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.
374  certain licenses do or don't qualify.  </p>
375    
376  <P>  <h4>Get help with free licenses</h4>
377    
378  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a  <p>
379  free software license, see our <A  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
380  HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>.  If the  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
381  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
382  about it by sending us email at <A  listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
383  HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</A>.  <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
384    </p>
385  <HR>  
386    <p>
387  <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
388    Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
389  <P>  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
390  Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean  for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
391  something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
392  term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom  </p>
393  rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls  
394  to mind freedom</A>.  <p>
395    If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
396  <HR>  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
397  [  and avoid various practical problems.
398  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  </p>
399  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  
400  <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
401  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A>  
402  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Danish</A>  <p>
403  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
404  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
405  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  manuals are in effect part of the software.
406  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A>  </p>
407  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A>  
408  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A>  <p>
409  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A>  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
410  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
411  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  such as educational works and reference
412  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
413  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  example.
414  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A>  </p>
415  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  
416  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Romanian</A>  <p>
417  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
418  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A>        has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
419  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
420  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  </p>
421  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical -->  
422  <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! -->  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
423  ]  
424  <P>  <p>
425  Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
426  <P>  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
427    prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
428  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
429    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
430  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
431  There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to  </p>
432  contact</A> the FSF.  </div>
433  <P>  
434    <h3 id="History">History</h3>
435  Please send comments on these web pages to  
436    <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
437  <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>,  the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
438  send other questions to  was changed.</p>
439  <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  
440  <P>  <ul>
441  Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Free  
442  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=1.152&amp;r2=1.153">Version
443  02111,  USA  1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
444  <P>  you from making it run.</li>
445  Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
446  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=1.140&amp;r2=1.141">Version
447  <P>  1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
448  Updated:  
449    <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
450    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
451    as you wish.</li>
452    
453    <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
454    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
455    
456    <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
457    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
458    of another program.</li>
459    
460    <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
461    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
462    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
463    
464    <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
465    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
466    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
467    
468    <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
469    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
470    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
471    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
472    
473    <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
474    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
475    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
476    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
477    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
478    
479    <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
480    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
481    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
482    version for your computing.</li>
483    
484    <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
485    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
486    
487    <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
488    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
489    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
490    in someone else's development project.</li>
491    
492    <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
493    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
494    free software.</li>
495    
496    <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
497    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
498    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
499    
500    <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
501    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
502    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
503    replacement.</li>
504    
505    <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
506    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
507    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
508    <ul>
509    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
510    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
511    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
512    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
513    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
514    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
515    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
516    </ul>
517    </li>
518    
519    <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
520    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
521    
522    <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
523    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
524    the program for any purpose.</li>
525    
526    <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
527    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
528    
529    <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
530    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
531    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
532    
533    <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
534    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
535    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
536    use.</li>
537    
538    <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
539    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
540    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
541    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
542    
543    <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
544    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
545    licenses.</li>
546    
547    <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
548    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
549    
550    <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
551    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
552    versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
553    
554    </ul>
555    
556    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
557    other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
558    interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
559    asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
560    You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
561    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
562    interface</a>.</p>
563    
564    <h3 style="font-size:1em">Footnote</h3>
565    <ol>
566    <li id="f1">The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around
567    1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized that
568    the freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned explicitly.
569    It was clearly more basic than the other three, so it properly should
570    precede them. Rather than renumber the others, we made it freedom&nbsp;0.</li>
571    </ol>
572    
573    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
574    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
575    <div id="footer">
576    <div class="unprintable">
577    
578    <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
579    <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
580    There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
581    the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
582    to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
583    
584    <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
585            replace it with the translation of these two:
586    
587            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
588            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
589            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
590            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
591            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
592    
593            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
594            our web pages, see <a
595            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
596            README</a>. -->
597    Please see the <a
598    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
599    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
600    of this article.</p>
601    </div>
602    
603    <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
604         files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
605         be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
606         without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
607         Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
608         document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
609         document was modified, or published.
610        
611         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
612         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
613         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
614         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
615         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
616        
617         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
618         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
619    
620    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2018
621    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
622    
623    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
624    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
625    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
626    
627    <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
628    
629    <p class="unprintable">Updated:
630  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
631  $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
632  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
633  <HR>  </p>
634  </BODY>  </div>
635  </HTML>  </div>
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637    </html>
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