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revision 1.87 by brett, Fri Dec 11 15:54:22 2009 UTC revision 1.88 by rms, Sat Dec 12 14:54:22 2009 UTC
# Line 53  you should be free to redistribute copie Line 53  you should be free to redistribute copie
53  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
54  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
55  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
56  for permission.  for permission to do so.
57  </p>  </p>
58    
59  <p>  <p>
# Line 69  or organization to use it on any kind of Line 69  or organization to use it on any kind of
69  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
70  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
71  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>
72  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,
73  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
74  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.
75  </p>  </p>
# Line 78  for her purposes, but you are not entitl Line 78  for her purposes, but you are not entitl
78  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
79  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
80  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
81  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is ok if there  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
82  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
83  (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
84  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 86  make them.
86  </p>  </p>
87    
88  <p>  <p>
89  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
90  versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have
91  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
92  condition for free software.  source code is a necessary condition for free software.
93  </p>  </p>
94    
95  <p>  <p>
# Line 106  even if the source code they are compile Line 106  even if the source code they are compile
106  <p>  <p>
107  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
108  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you  subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
109  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
110  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
111  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.  license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
112  </p>  </p>
113    
# Line 129  the central freedoms; rather it protects Line 129  the central freedoms; rather it protects
129  </p>  </p>
130    
131  <p>  <p>
132  <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q>  A free  <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>noncommercial.</q>  A free
133  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
134  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
135  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
# Line 154  that way also</q> can be acceptable too, Line 154  that way also</q> can be acceptable too,
154  such a rule still leaves you the choice of whether to publish your version  such a rule still leaves you the choice of whether to publish your version
155  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for
156  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also
157  acceptable for the license to require that, if you have distributed a  acceptable for the license to require that you identify
158  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you  your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified
159  must send one, or that you identify yourself on your modifications.  version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send
160    one.
161  </p>  </p>
162    
163  <p>  <p>
# Line 196  is unlikely to have some other sort of p Line 197  is unlikely to have some other sort of p
197  (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software  (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
198  licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger  licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
199  range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways  range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
200  such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and non-free.  such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
201  </p>  </p>
202    
203  <p>  <p>
# Line 204  We can't possibly list all the ways that Line 205  We can't possibly list all the ways that
205  contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that  contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
206  copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as  copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
207  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
208  it is non-free.  it is nonfree.
209  </p>  </p>
210    
211  <p>  <p>
# Line 214  the issue is about price, not freedom. Line 215  the issue is about price, not freedom.
215  as <q>piracy</q> embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See  as <q>piracy</q> embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
216  <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that  <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
217  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
218  a list of <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
219  <q>free software</q></a> into various languages.  <q>free software</q></a> into various languages.
220  </p>  </p>
221    
# Line 241  listed there, you can ask us about it by Line 242  listed there, you can ask us about it by
242  </p>  </p>
243    
244  <p>  <p>
245  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the FSF  If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
246  by writing to that address. The proliferation of different free software  Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
247  licenses means increased work for users in understanding the licenses;  proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
248  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
249  meets your needs.  find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
250  </p>  </p>
251    
252  <p>  <p>
253  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
254  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
255  and avoid various practical problems.  and avoid various practical problems.
256  </p>  </p>
257    
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