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2  <HTML>  
3  <HEAD>  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
4  <TITLE>What is Free Software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE>  
5  <LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org">  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
6  </HEAD>  <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." />
7  <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#9900DD">  <link rel="alternate" title="What's New" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
8  <H3>What is Free Software?</H3>  <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
9    
10  <A HREF="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><IMG SRC="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg"  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
11     ALT=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] "  
12     WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A>  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>
13    
14  [  <p>
15    <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A>  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be
16  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A>  true about a particular software program for it to be considered free
17  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A>  software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.
18  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A>  If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see
19  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A>  the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.
20  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A>  </p>
21  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A>  
22  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A>  <p>
23  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A>  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand
24  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A>  the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;
25  | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A>  not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;
26  ]  </p>
27  <P>  
28    <p>
29  ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,
30  the concept, you should think of ``free speech'', not ``free beer.''  study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it means that the
31  <P>  program's users have the four essential freedoms:
32  ``Free software'' refers to the users' freedom to run, copy,  </p>
33  distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,  
34  it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:  <ul>
35  <P>    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
36      <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make
37  <UL>        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
38    <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).        precondition for this.
39    <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs    </li>
40        (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.    <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).
42    <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements    </li>
43       to the public, so that the whole community benefits.    <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
44        (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.        to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
45  </UL>        community a chance to benefit from your changes.
46          Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
47  <P>    </li>
48  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  </ul>
49  Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or  
50  without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for  <p>
51  distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>.  Being  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,
52  free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not  you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
53  have to ask or pay for permission.  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
54    <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
56    for permission to do so.
57    </p>
58    
59  <P>  <p>
60  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
61  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
62  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
63  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
64    </p>
65    
66  <P>  <p>
67  The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
68  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
69  of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently  overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
70  with the developer or any other specific entity.  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>
72    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
74    for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
75    </p>
76    
77  <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.  (It is ok if there is  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
80  no way to produce a binary or executable form, but people must have  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
81  the freedom to redistribute such forms should they find a way to make  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
82  them.)  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
84  <P>  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
85  In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved  make them.
86  versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of  </p>
87  the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary  
88  condition for free software.  <p>
89    In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
90  <P>  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have
91  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
92  long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
93  power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
94  cause, the software is not free.  as source code.
95    </p>
96    
97    <p>
98    Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
99    the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
100    run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash;
101    a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through
102    blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a
103    theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not
104    sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software
105    even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
106    </p>
107    
108    <p>
109    One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
110    subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
111    cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
112    requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
113    license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
114    </p>
115    
116    <p>
117    Freedom 3 includes the freedom to use release your modified versions
118    as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
119    releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
120    a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
121    license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
122    as a free license.
123    </p>
124    
125    <p>
126    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
127    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
128    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change
129    its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the
130    software is not free.
131    </p>
132    
133  <P>  <p>
134  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
135  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
136  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that
137  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny
138  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with
139  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  the central freedoms; rather it protects them.
140    </p>
141    
142    <p>
143    &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free
144    program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
145    and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
146    is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
147    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
148    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
149    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
150    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
151    </p>
152    
153    <p>
154    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
155    If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that
156    someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.
157    </p>
158    
159    <p>
160    However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they
161    don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or
162    your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that &ldquo;if
163    you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in
164    that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that
165    such a rule still leaves you the choice of whether to publish your version
166    at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for
167    versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also
168    acceptable for the license to require that you identify
169    your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified
170    version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send
171    one.
172    </p>
173    
174    <p>
175    In the GNU project, we use
176    &ldquo;<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>&rdquo;
177    to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
178    <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted
179    free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
180    <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
181    but if your program is non-copylefted free software, it is still basically
182    ethical.
183    </p>
184    
185    <p>
186    See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>
187    for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo;
188    and other categories of software relate to each other.
189    </p>
190    
191    <p>
192    Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
193    and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
194    programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
195    eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
196    is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
197    way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
198    jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
199    must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of
200    any of the essential freedoms.
201    </p>
202    
203    <p>
204    Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
205    on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
206    copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
207    is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
208    (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
209    licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
210    range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
211    such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
212    </p>
213    
214    <p>
215    We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
216    contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
217    copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
218    legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
219    it is nonfree.
220    </p>
221    
222    <p>
223    When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
224    like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
225    the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
226    as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
227    <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
228    are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
229    a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
230    &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
231    </p>
232    
233    <p>
234    Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
235    definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
236    whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
237    we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
238    spirit as well as the precise words.  If a license includes unconscionable
239    restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
240    in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
241    that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
242    before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
243    a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
244    it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
245    </p>
246    
247    <p>
248    If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
249    software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
250    of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
251    listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
252    <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
253    </p>
254    
255    <p>
256    If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
257    Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
258    proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
259    for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
260    find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
261    </p>
262    
263    <p>
264    If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
265    help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
266    and avoid various practical problems.
267    </p>
268    
269    <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>
270    
271    <p>
272    <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
273    for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
274    manuals are in effect part of the software.
275    </p>
276    
277    <p>
278    The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
279    practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
280    such as educational works and reference
281    works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known
282    example.
283    </p>
284    
285    <p>
286    Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
287    has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
288    free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
289    </p>
290    
291    <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>
292    
293    <p>
294    Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
295    something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We
296    prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
297    it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
298    word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
299    never refers to freedom</a>.
300    </p>
301    
302    <h2 id="History">History</h2>
303    
304    <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition to
305    clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with
306    links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review
307    them if they like.</p>
308    
309    <ul>
310    
311    <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
312    1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
313    
314    <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
315    1.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
316    of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
317    in someone else's development project.</li>
318    
319    <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
320    1.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
321    free software.</li>
322    
323    <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
324    1.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
325    i.e., no tivoization.</li>
326    
327    <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
328    1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
329    unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
330    replacement.</li>
331    
332    <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
333    1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
334    in some places but not reflected everywhere:
335    <ul>
336    <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
337    substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
338    Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
339    <li>The right to merge in existing modules
340    refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
341    <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
342    <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
343    </ul>
344    </li>
345    
346    <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
347    1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
348    
349    <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
350    1.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
351    the program for any purpose.</li>
352    
353    <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
354    1.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
355    
356    <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
357    1.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
358    available free software to create your modifications.</li>
359    
360    <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
361    1.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
362    provide source for versions of the software you put into public
363    use.</li>
364    
365    <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
366    1.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
367    identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
368    clarifications throughout the text.</li>
369    
370    <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
371    1.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
372    licenses.</li>
373    
374    <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
375    1.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
376    
377    <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
378    1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
379    versions you distribute to the author.</li>
380    
381    </ul>
382    
383    <p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other
384    changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.
385    Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would
386    like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on
387    our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
388    interface</a>.</p>
389    
390    </div>
391    
392    <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
393    
394    <div id="footer">
395    
396    <p>
397    Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
398    <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
399    There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
400    the FSF.
401    <br />
402    Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
403    <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
404    </p>
405    
406    <p>
407    Please see the
408    <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
409    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
410    translations of this article.
411    </p>
412    
413    <p>
414    Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
415    2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
416    </p>
417    <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
418    permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is
419    preserved.
420    </p>
421    
422  <P>  <p>
 Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of GNU software, or you  
 may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got  
 your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the  
 software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>.  
   
 <P>  
 ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program  
 must be available for commercial use.  Commercial development of free  
 software is no longer unusual; such programs are free commercial  
 software.  
   
 <P>  
 Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  
 don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions.  
 Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must  
 make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the  
 same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of  
 whether to publish the program or not.)  
   
 <P>  
 In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html">  
 ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  
 <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">  
 non-copylefted free software</A> also exists.  We believe there are  
 important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is  
 better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free  
 software, we can still use it.  
   
 <P>  
 See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software  
        (18k characters)</A>  
 for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and  
 other categories of software relate to each other.  
   
 <P>  
 Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control  
 regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to  
 distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do  
 not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but  
 what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of  
 use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect  
 activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.  
   
 <P>  
 When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like  
 ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the  
 issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as  
 ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See <A  
 HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases  
 that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms.  
 We also have a list of <A HREF="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations  
 of "free software"</A> into various languages.  
 <HR>  
   
 <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4>  
   
 <P>  
 Another group has started using the term <A  
 HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html"> open source</A> to mean  
 something close (but not identical) to "free software".  
   
 <HR>  
   
 Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.  
 <P>  
 FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to  
 <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  
 Other <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">ways to contact</A> the FSF.  
 <P>  
 Comments on these web pages to  
 <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@www.gnu.org</EM></A>,  
 send other questions to  
 <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.  
 <P>  
 Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,  
 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111,  USA  
 <P>  
 Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
 permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.<P>  
423  Updated:  Updated:
424  <!-- hhmts start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
425  24 Jan 2001 mhw  $Date$
426  <!-- hhmts end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
427  <HR>  </p>
428  </BODY>  </div>
429  </HTML>  
430    <div id="translations">
431    <h4>Translations of this page</h4>
432    
433    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->
434    <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->
435    <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->
436    <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->
437    <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
438    <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->
439    <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
440    <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
441    <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
442    <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
443    <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->
444    <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->
445    <ul class="translations-list">
446    <!-- Afrikaans -->
447    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li>
448    <!-- Arabic -->
449    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li>
450    <!-- Azerbaijani -->
451    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li>
452    <!-- Bulgarian -->
453    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li>
454    <!-- Bengali -->
455    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li>
456    <!-- Bosnian -->
457    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li>
458    <!-- Catalan -->
459    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li>
460    <!-- Czech -->
461    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li>
462    <!-- Danish -->
463    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li>
464    <!-- German -->
465    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>
466    <!-- Greek -->
467    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li>
468    <!-- English -->
469    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>
470    <!-- Esperanto -->
471    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li>
472    <!-- Spanish -->
473    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>
474    <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->
475    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li>
476    <!-- French -->
477    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>
478    <!-- Galician -->
479    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li>
480    <!-- Hebrew -->
481    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>
482    <!-- Croatian -->
483    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li>
484    <!-- Hungarian -->
485    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li>
486    <!-- Indonesian -->
487    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li>
488    <!-- Italian -->
489    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li>
490    <!-- Japanese -->
491    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li>
492    <!-- Korean -->
493    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li>
494    <!-- Norwegian Bokmål -->
495    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li>
496    <!-- Dutch -->
497    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li>
498    <!-- Polish -->
499    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>
500    <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->
501    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li>
502    <!-- Romanian -->
503    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>
504    <!-- Russian -->
505    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li>
506    <!-- Slovak -->
507    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li>
508    <!--- Slovenian -->
509    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li>
510    <!-- Serbian -->
511    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li>
512    <!-- Swedish -->
513    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li>
514    <!-- Tamil -->
515    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li>
516    <!-- Tagalog -->
517    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li>
518    <!-- Turkish -->
519    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li>
520    <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->
521    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li>
522    <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->
523    <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li>
524    </ul>
525    </div>
526    
527    </div>
528    
529    </body>
530    </html>
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