/[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 1.83 by brett, Tue Jun 30 14:53:51 2009 UTC revision 1.148 by rms, Sat Aug 20 14:28:57 2016 UTC
# Line 1  Line 1 
1  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2    <!-- Parent-Version: 1.77 -->
3  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>  <title>What is free software?
4    - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
5    
6  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />  <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  <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." />  <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." />
 <link rel="alternate" title="What's New" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />  
 <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />  
8    
9    <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
10  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
11    
12  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
13    <!--#include virtual="/licenses/fsf-licensing.html" -->
14    
15    <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16    
17    <blockquote>
18    <p>
19    The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
20    particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
21    time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
22    about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
23    below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
24    software.
25    </p>
26    </blockquote>
27    
28  <p>  <p>
29  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
30  true about a particular software program for it to be considered free  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
31  software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
32  If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
33  the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.  liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
34    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
35    &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
36    software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
37    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
38    is gratis.
39  </p>  </p>
40    
41  <p>  <p>
42  <q>Free software</q> is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
43  the concept, you should think of <q>free</q> as in <q>free speech,</q>  these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
44  not as in <q>free beer.</q>  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
45    program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
46    &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
47    users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
48    program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
49    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
50  </p>  </p>
51    
52  <p>  <p>
53  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,  A program is free software if the program's users have the
54  study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it refers to  four essential freedoms:
 four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:  
55  </p>  </p>
56    
57  <ul>  <ul>
58    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
59    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make        for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
60        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
61        precondition for this.        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
62          code is a precondition for this.
63    </li>    </li>
64    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
65        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
66    </li>    </li>
67    <li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
68        (and modified versions in general)        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
69        to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3).        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
70        Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
71    </li>    </li>
72  </ul>  </ul>
73    
74  <p>  <p>
75  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
76  you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
77  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
78    being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
79    
80    <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
81    we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
82    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
83    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
84    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
85    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
86    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
87    
88    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
89    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
90    
91    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
92    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
93    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
94  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
95  things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay  things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
96  for permission.  for permission to do so.
97  </p>  </p>
98    
99  <p>  <p>
# Line 69  or organization to use it on any kind of Line 109  or organization to use it on any kind of
109  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
110  with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is  with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
111  the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>  the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
112  purpose; you as a user are free to run a program for your purposes,  purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
113  and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it  and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
114  for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.  for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
115  </p>  </p>
116    
117  <p>  <p>
118    The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
119    forbidden or stopped from doing so.  It has nothing to do with what
120    functionality the program has, or whether it is useful for what you
121    want to do.</p>
122    
123    <p>
124  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
125  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
126  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
127  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is ok if there  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
128  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
129  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
130  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
# Line 86  make them. Line 132  make them.
132  </p>  </p>
133    
134  <p>  <p>
135  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
136  versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
137  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
138  condition for free software.  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
139    &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
140    as source code.
141  </p>  </p>
142    
143  <p>  <p>
144  Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of  Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
145  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
146  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash;  run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash; a
147  a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
148  blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 become a  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
149  theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
150  sufficient.  practical reality.  These binaries are not free
151    software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
152  </p>  </p>
153    
154  <p>  <p>
155  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
156  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
157  cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it  cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
158  requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add, then the  requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
159  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
160  </p>  </p>
161    
162  <p>  <p>
163    Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
164    as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
165    releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
166    a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
167    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
168    as a free license.
169    </p>
170    
171    <p>
172  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
173  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
174  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
175  its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the  restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
176  software is not free.  cause, the software is not free.
177  </p>  </p>
178    
179  <p>  <p>
180  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
181  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
182  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
183  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
184  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
185  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
186    protects them.
187    </p>
188    
189    <p>
190    In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
191    legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
192    <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
193    copyleft</a>.  However,
194    <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
195    noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
196    too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
197    Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
198    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
199    relate to each other.
200  </p>  </p>
201    
202  <p>  <p>
203  <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q>  A free  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
204  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
205  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
206  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
# Line 140  you always have the freedom to copy and Line 212  you always have the freedom to copy and
212    
213  <p>  <p>
214  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
215  If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that  If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
216  someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.  someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
217  </p>  </p>
218    
219  <p>  <p>
220  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
221  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
222  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that <q>if  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
223  you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in  Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
224  that way also</q> can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
225  such a rule still leaves you the choice of whether to publish your version  modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
226  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
227  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
228  acceptable for the license to require that, if you have distributed a  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
 modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you  
 must send one, or that you identify yourself on your modifications.  
229  </p>  </p>
230    
231  <p>  <p>
232  In the GNU project, we use  Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
233  <q><a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a></q>  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
234  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
235  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  saying that if you have distributed a
236  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
237  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is better to use copyleft</a>,  must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
238  but if your program is non-copylefted free software, it is still basically  whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
239  ethical.  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
240    are also acceptable.
241  </p>  </p>
242    
243  <p>  <p>
244  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
245  for a description of how <q>free software,</q> <q>copylefted software</q>  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
246  and other categories of software relate to each other.  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
247  </p>  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
248    sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
249    facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
250    alias for the modified version.</p>
251    
252  <p>  <p>
253  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
# Line 183  eliminate or override these restrictions Line 257  eliminate or override these restrictions
257  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
258  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
259  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
260  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
261  any of the essential freedoms.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
262    </p>
263    
264    <p>
265    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
266    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
267    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
268    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
269    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
270    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
271    software nonfree.
272    </p>
273    
274    <p>
275    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
276    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
277    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
278    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
279    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
280    license nonfree.
281    </p>
282    
283    <p>
284    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
285    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
286  </p>  </p>
287    
288  <p>  <p>
# Line 195  is unlikely to have some other sort of p Line 293  is unlikely to have some other sort of p
293  (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software  (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
294  licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger  licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
295  range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways  range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
296  such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and non-free.  such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
297  </p>  </p>
298    
299  <p>  <p>
# Line 203  We can't possibly list all the ways that Line 301  We can't possibly list all the ways that
301  contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that  contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
302  copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as  copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
303  legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude  legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
304  it is non-free.  it is nonfree.
305  </p>  </p>
306    
307  <p>  <p>
308  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
309  like <q>give away</q> or <q>for free,</q> because those terms imply that  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
310  the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such  the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
311  as <q>piracy</q> embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See  as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
312  <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that  <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
313  are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have  are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
314  a list of <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
315  <q>free software</q></a> into various languages.  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
316  </p>  </p>
317    
318  <p>  <p>
# Line 240  listed there, you can ask us about it by Line 338  listed there, you can ask us about it by
338  </p>  </p>
339    
340  <p>  <p>
341  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the FSF  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
342  by writing to that address. The proliferation of different free software  Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
343  licenses means increased work for users in understanding the licenses;  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
344  we may be able to help you find an existing Free Software license that  for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
345  meets your needs.  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
346  </p>  </p>
347    
348  <p>  <p>
349  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
350  help you can ensure that the license really is a Free Software license  help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
351  and avoid various practical problems.  and avoid various practical problems.
352  </p>  </p>
353    
354  <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
355    
356  <p>  <p>
357  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
# Line 265  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 363  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
363  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
364  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
365  such as educational works and reference  such as educational works and reference
366  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
367  example.  example.
368  </p>  </p>
369    
# Line 275  has been extended to a definition of <a Line 373  has been extended to a definition of <a
373  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
374  </p>  </p>
375    
376  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
377    
378  <p>  <p>
379  Another group has started using the term <q>open source</q> to mean  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
380  something close (but not identical) to <q>free software.</q>  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
381  prefer the term <q>free software</q> because, once you have heard that  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
382  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
383  word <q>open</q> <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
384  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
385  </p>  </p>
386    
387  <h2 id="History">History</h2>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
388    
389  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition to  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
390  clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with  the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
391  links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review  was changed.</p>
 them if they like.</p>  
392    
393  <ul>  <ul>
394    
395    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.140&amp;r2=1.141">Version
396    1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
397    
398    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.134&amp;r2=1.135">Version
399    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
400    as you wish.</li>
401    
402    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.133&amp;r2=1.134">Version
403    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
404    
405    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.130&amp;r2=1.131">Version
406    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
407    of another program.</li>
408    
409    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.128&amp;r2=1.129">Version
410    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
411    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
412    
413    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.121&amp;r2=1.122">Version
414    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
415    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
416    
417    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.117&amp;r2=1.118">Version
418    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
419    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
420    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
421    
422    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.110&amp;r2=1.111">Version
423    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
424    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
425    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
426    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
427    
428    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.104&amp;r2=1.105">Version
429    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
430    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
431    version for your computing.</li>
432    
433    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.91&amp;r2=1.92">Version
434    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
435    
436    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.89&amp;r2=1.90">Version
437    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
438    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
439    in someone else's development project.</li>
440    
441    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.88&amp;r2=1.89">Version
442    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
443    free software.</li>
444    
445  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.79&amp;r2=1.80">Version  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.79&amp;r2=1.80">Version
446  1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;  1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
447  i.e., no tivoization.</li>  i.e., no tivoization.</li>
# Line 351  licenses.</li> Line 498  licenses.</li>
498    
499  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.10&amp;r2=1.11">Version  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.10&amp;r2=1.11">Version
500  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
501  versions you distribute to the author.</li>  versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
502    
503  </ul>  </ul>
504    
505  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
506  changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
507  Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would  interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
508  like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
509  our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb  You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
510    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
511  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
512    
 </div>  
513    
514    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
515  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
   
516  <div id="footer">  <div id="footer">
517    <div class="unprintable">
518    
519  <p>  <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
 Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  
520  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
521  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
522  the FSF.  the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
523  <br />  to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
524  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to  
525  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
526  </p>          replace it with the translation of these two:
527    
528            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
529            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
530            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
531            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
532            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
533    
534            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
535            our web pages, see <a
536            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
537            README</a>. -->
538    Please see the <a
539    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
540    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
541    of this article.</p>
542    </div>
543    
544  <p>  <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
545  Please see the       files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
546  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations       be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
547  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting       without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
548  translations of this article.       Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
549  </p>       document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
550         document was modified, or published.
551        
552         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
553         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
554         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
555         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
556         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
557        
558         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
559         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
560    
561    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2016
562    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
563    
564    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
565    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
566    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
567    
568  <p>  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
 Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,  
 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  
 </p>  
 <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
 permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  
 preserved.  
 </p>  
569    
570  <p>  <p class="unprintable">Updated:
 Updated:  
571  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
572  $Date$  $Date$
573  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
574  </p>  </p>
575  </div>  </div>
   
 <div id="translations">  
 <h4>Translations of this page</h4>  
   
 <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->  
 <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->  
 <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->  
 <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->  
 <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->  
 <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->  
 <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->  
 <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->  
 <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->  
 <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->  
 <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->  
 <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->  
 <ul class="translations-list">  
 <!-- Afrikaans -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li>  
 <!-- Arabic -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li>  
 <!-- Azerbaijani -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li>  
 <!-- Bulgarian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li>  
 <!-- Bengali -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li>  
 <!-- Bosnian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li>  
 <!-- Catalan -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li>  
 <!-- Czech -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li>  
 <!-- Danish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li>  
 <!-- German -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>  
 <!-- Greek -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li>  
 <!-- English -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>  
 <!-- Esperanto -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li>  
 <!-- Spanish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>  
 <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li>  
 <!-- French -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>  
 <!-- Galician -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li>  
 <!-- Hebrew -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>  
 <!-- Croatian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li>  
 <!-- Hungarian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li>  
 <!-- Indonesian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li>  
 <!-- Italian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li>  
 <!-- Japanese -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li>  
 <!-- Korean -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li>  
 <!-- Norwegian BokmÃ¥l -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li>  
 <!-- Dutch -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li>  
 <!-- Polish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>  
 <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li>  
 <!-- Romanian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>  
 <!-- Russian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li>  
 <!-- Slovak -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li>  
 <!--- Slovenian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li>  
 <!-- Serbian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li>  
 <!-- Swedish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li>  
 <!-- Tamil -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li>  
 <!-- Tagalog -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li>  
 <!-- Turkish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li>  
 <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li>  
 <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li>  
 </ul>  
576  </div>  </div>
   
 </div>  
   
577  </body>  </body>
578  </html>  </html>

Legend:
Removed from v.1.83  
changed lines
  Added in v.1.148

savannah-hackers-public@gnu.org
ViewVC Help
Powered by ViewVC 1.1.26