/[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 1.92 by rms, Tue Mar 30 05:22:50 2010 UTC revision 1.106 by ineiev, Tue Sep 20 08:15:37 2011 UTC
# Line 8  Line 8 
8  <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />  <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
9    
10  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
11    <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
12    
13  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>
14    
# Line 33  program's users have the four essential Line 34  program's users have the four essential
34    
35  <ul>  <ul>
36    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
37    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
38        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
39        precondition for this.        code is a precondition for this.
40    </li>    </li>
41    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
42        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
# Line 97  as source code. Line 98  as source code.
98  <p>  <p>
99  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
100  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
101  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
102  a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
103  blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
104  theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather
105  sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software  than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,
106  even if the source code they are compiled from is free.  these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are
107    compiled from is free.
108  </p>  </p>
109    
110  <p>  <p>
# Line 114  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 116  license is too restrictive to qualify as
116  </p>  </p>
117    
118  <p>  <p>
119  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to use release your modified versions  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
120  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
121  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
122  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
# Line 157  someone else considers an improvement, t Line 159  someone else considers an improvement, t
159  </p>  </p>
160    
161  <p>  <p>
162  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
163  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
164  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that &ldquo;if  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
165  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
166  that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that  name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
167  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
168  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
169  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
170  acceptable for the license to require that you identify  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
171  your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified  </p>
172  version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send  
173  one.  <p>
174    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
175    must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
176    on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
177    saying that if you have distributed a
178    modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
179    must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
180    whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
181    of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
182    are also acceptable.
183  </p>  </p>
184    
185  <p>  <p>
186  In the GNU project, we use  In the GNU project, we use
187  &ldquo;<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>&rdquo;  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
188  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
189  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted
190  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
191  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
192  but if your program is non-copylefted free software, it is still basically  but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically
193  ethical.  ethical. (See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software relate to each other.)
 </p>  
   
 <p>  
 See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>  
 for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo;  
 and other categories of software relate to each other.  
194  </p>  </p>
195    
196  <p>  <p>
# Line 278  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 283  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
283  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
284  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
285  such as educational works and reference  such as educational works and reference
286  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
287  example.  example.
288  </p>  </p>
289    
# Line 308  them if they like.</p> Line 313  them if they like.</p>
313    
314  <ul>  <ul>
315    
316    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.103&amp;r2=1.104">Version
317    1.104</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
318    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
319    version for your computing.</li>
320    
321  <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  <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
322  1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>  1.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
323    
# Line 411  translations of this article. Line 421  translations of this article.
421  </p>  </p>
422    
423  <p>  <p>
424  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,
425  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
426  </p>  </p>
427  <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
428  permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
429  preserved.  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.
430  </p>  </p>
431    
432  <p>  <p>
# Line 427  $Date$ Line 437  $Date$
437  </p>  </p>
438  </div>  </div>
439    
440  <div id="translations">  <!-- <div id="translations"> -->
441  <h4>Translations of this page</h4>  <!-- <h4>Translations of this page</h4> -->
442    <!--  -->
443  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical by language code. -->
444  <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->  <!--      Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German. -->
445  <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->  <!--      Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text. -->
446  <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->  <!--      If you add a new language here, please -->
447  <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->  <!--      advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
448  <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->  <!--       - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
449  <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->  <!--       - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
450  <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->  <!--       - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
451  <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->  <!--       to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
452  <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->  <!--      Please also check you have the language code right; see: -->
453  <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->  <!--      http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php -->
454  <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->  <!--      If the 2-letter ISO 639-1 code is not available, -->
455  <ul class="translations-list">  <!--      use the 3-letter ISO 639-2. -->
456    <!--      Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
457    <!--  -->
458    <!-- <ul class="translations-list"> -->
459  <!-- Afrikaans -->  <!-- Afrikaans -->
460  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li> -->
461  <!-- Arabic -->  <!-- Arabic -->
462  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li> -->
463  <!-- Azerbaijani -->  <!-- Azerbaijani -->
464  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li> -->
465  <!-- Bulgarian -->  <!-- Bulgarian -->
466  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li> -->
467  <!-- Bengali -->  <!-- Bengali -->
468  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li> -->
469  <!-- Bosnian -->  <!-- Bosnian -->
470  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li> -->
471  <!-- Catalan -->  <!-- Catalan -->
472  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li> -->
473  <!-- Czech -->  <!-- Czech -->
474  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li> -->
475  <!-- Danish -->  <!-- Danish -->
476  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li> -->
477  <!-- German -->  <!-- German -->
478  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li> -->
479  <!-- Greek -->  <!-- Greek -->
480  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li> -->
481  <!-- English -->  <!-- English -->
482  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li> -->
483  <!-- Esperanto -->  <!-- Esperanto -->
484  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li> -->
485  <!-- Spanish -->  <!-- Spanish -->
486  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li> -->
487  <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->  <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->
488  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li> -->
489  <!-- French -->  <!-- French -->
490  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li> -->
491  <!-- Galician -->  <!-- Galician -->
492  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li> -->
493  <!-- Hebrew -->  <!-- Hebrew -->
494  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li> -->
495  <!-- Croatian -->  <!-- Croatian -->
496  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li> -->
497  <!-- Hungarian -->  <!-- Hungarian -->
498  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li> -->
499  <!-- Indonesian -->  <!-- Indonesian -->
500  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li> -->
501  <!-- Italian -->  <!-- Italian -->
502  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li> -->
503  <!-- Japanese -->  <!-- Japanese -->
504  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li> -->
505  <!-- Korean -->  <!-- Korean -->
506  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li> -->
507  <!-- Norwegian Bokmål -->  <!-- Norwegian Bokmål -->
508  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li> -->
509  <!-- Dutch -->  <!-- Dutch -->
510  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li> -->
511  <!-- Polish -->  <!-- Polish -->
512  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li> -->
513  <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->  <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->
514  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li> -->
515  <!-- Romanian -->  <!-- Romanian -->
516  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li> -->
517  <!-- Russian -->  <!-- Russian -->
518  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li> -->
519  <!-- Slovak -->  <!-- Slovak -->
520  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li> -->
521  <!--- Slovenian -->  <!-- - Slovenian -->
522  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li> -->
523  <!-- Serbian -->  <!-- Serbian -->
524  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li> -->
525  <!-- Swedish -->  <!-- Swedish -->
526  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li> -->
527  <!-- Tamil -->  <!-- Tamil -->
528  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li> -->
529  <!-- Tagalog -->  <!-- Tagalog -->
530  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li> -->
531  <!-- Turkish -->  <!-- Turkish -->
532  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li> -->
533  <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->  <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->
534  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li> -->
535  <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->  <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->
536  <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li>  <!-- <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li> -->
537  </ul>  <!-- </ul> -->
538  </div>  <!-- </div> -->
539    
540  </div>  </div>
541    
Legend:
Removed from v.1.92  
changed lines
  Added in v.1.106
savannah-hackers-public@gnu.org
 ViewVC Help
Powered by ViewVC 1.1.26