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> |
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> |
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 |
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> |
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 — 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 — then the |
111 |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
112 |
</p> |
</p> |
113 |
|
|
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. |
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> |
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> |
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> |
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 |
|
|
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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