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revision 1.74 by rms, Tue Dec 9 18:16:53 2008 UTC revision 1.81 by rms, Tue Jun 30 12:19:47 2009 UTC
# Line 33  four kinds of freedom, for the users of Line 33  four kinds of freedom, for the users of
33    
34  <ul>  <ul>
35    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
36    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make
37        your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
38        for this.        precondition for this.
39    </li>    </li>
40    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
41        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
# Line 93  condition for free software. Line 93  condition for free software.
93  </p>  </p>
94    
95  <p>  <p>
96    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
97    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
98    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &&mdash;
99    a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through
100    blackwhiting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 become a
101    theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not
102    sufficient.
103    </p>
104    
105    <p>
106  One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free  One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
107  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
108  cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it  cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it
# Line 101  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 111  license is too restrictive to qualify as
111  </p>  </p>
112    
113  <p>  <p>
114  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
115  long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
116  power to revoke the license, or replace it with a different license  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change
117  (since this implies revoking the old license),  its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the
118  without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the software is not  software is not free.
 free.  
119  </p>  </p>
120    
121  <p>  <p>
# Line 119  the central freedoms; rather it protects Line 128  the central freedoms; rather it protects
128  </p>  </p>
129    
130  <p>  <p>
131    <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q>  A free
132    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
133    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
134    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
135  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
136  obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,  obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
137  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
# Line 132  someone else considers an improvement, t Line 145  someone else considers an improvement, t
145  </p>  </p>
146    
147  <p>  <p>
148  <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q>  A free  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they
149  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or
 and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  
 is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  
 </p>  
   
 <p>  
 Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  
 don't substantively block your freedom to release modified versions, or  
150  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that <q>if  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that <q>if
151  you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in  you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in
152  that way also</q> can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that  that way also</q> can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that
# Line 159  to protect these freedoms legally for ev Line 165  to protect these freedoms legally for ev
165  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted
166  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
167  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is better to use copyleft</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is better to use copyleft</a>,
168  but if your program is non-copylefted free software, we can still  but if your program is non-copylefted free software, it is still basically
169  use it.  ethical.
170  </p>  </p>
171    
172  <p>  <p>
# Line 177  eliminate or override these restrictions Line 183  eliminate or override these restrictions
183  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
184  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
185  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
186  must not require obedience to any export regulations a condition of  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of
187  any of the essential freedoms.  any of the essential freedoms.
188  </p>  </p>
189    
# Line 289  them if they like.</p> Line 295  them if they like.</p>
295    
296  <ul>  <ul>
297    
298    <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
299    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
300    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
301    
302    <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
303    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
304    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
305    replacement.</li>
306    
307  <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  <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
308  1.74</a>: Three clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated  1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
309  in some places but not reflected everywhere:  in some places but not reflected everywhere:
310  <ul>  <ul>
311  <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can  <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
# Line 299  Freedom 3 includes distributing modified Line 314  Freedom 3 includes distributing modified
314  <li>The right to merge in existing modules  <li>The right to merge in existing modules
315  refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>  refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
316  <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>  <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
317    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
318  </ul>  </ul>
319  </li>  </li>
320    
# Line 371  translations of this article. Line 387  translations of this article.
387    
388  <p>  <p>
389  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
390  2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
391  </p>  </p>
392  <address>51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA</address>  <address>51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA</address>
393  <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
# Line 414  $Date$ Line 430  $Date$
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