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<title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title> |
<title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title> |
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<meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" /> |
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<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." /> |
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<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" /> |
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<h2>The Free Software Definition</h2> |
<h2>What is free software?</h2> |
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<h3>The Free Software Definition</h3> |
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<p> |
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We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be |
We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be |
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<ul> |
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<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> |
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<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 |
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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 |
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precondition for this. |
code is a precondition for this. |
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</li> |
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<li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor |
<li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor |
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(freedom 2). |
(freedom 2). |
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<p> |
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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 |
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the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
the original. If the program is delivered in a product designed to |
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run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours — |
run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours — a |
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a practice known as “tivoization” or (through |
practice known as “tivoization” or “lockdown”, |
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blacklisting) as “secure boot” — freedom 1 becomes a |
or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as “secure |
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theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom. This is not |
boot” — freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather |
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sufficient. In other words, these binaries are not free software |
than a practical freedom. This is not sufficient. In other words, |
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even if the source code they are compiled from is free. |
these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are |
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compiled from is free. |
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<p> |
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Freedom 3 includes the freedom to use release your modified versions |
Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions |
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as free software. A free license may also permit other ways of |
as free software. A free license may also permit other ways of |
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releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be |
releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be |
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a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license. However, a |
a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license. However, a |
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However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they |
However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, |
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don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or |
if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified |
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your freedom to make and use modified versions privately. Rules that “if |
versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately. |
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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 |
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that way also” can be acceptable too, on the same condition. (Note that |
name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your |
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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 |
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at all.) Rules that require release of source code to the users for |
burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your |
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versions that you put into public use are also acceptable. It is also |
changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to |
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acceptable for the license to require that you identify |
the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more. |
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your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified |
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version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send |
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one. |
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Rules that “if you make your version available in this way, you |
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must make it available in that way also” can be acceptable too, |
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on the same condition. An example of such an acceptable rule is one |
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saying that if you have distributed a |
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modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you |
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must send one. (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of |
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whether to distribute your version at all.) Rules that require release |
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of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use |
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are also acceptable. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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In the GNU project, we use |
In the GNU project, we use |
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“<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>” |
<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> |
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to protect these freedoms legally for everyone. But |
to protect these freedoms legally for everyone. But |
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<a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted |
<a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted |
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free software</a> also exists. We believe there are important reasons why |
free software</a> also exists. We believe there are important reasons why |
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<a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>, |
<a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>, |
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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 |
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ethical. |
ethical. (See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a> for a description of how “free software,” “copylefted software” and other categories of software relate to each other.) |
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<p> |
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See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a> |
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for a description of how “free software,” “copylefted software” |
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and other categories of software relate to each other. |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of |
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practical use — that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
practical use — that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge, |
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such as educational works and reference |
such as educational works and reference |
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works. <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known |
works. <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known |
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example. |
example. |
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</p> |
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<ul> |
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<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.103&r2=1.104">Version |
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1.104</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point |
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(already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified |
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version for your computing.</li> |
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<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.91&r2=1.92">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.91&r2=1.92">Version |
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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> |
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</p> |
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<p> |
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Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, |
Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, |
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2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
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</p> |
</p> |
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<p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is |
<p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license" |
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permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is |
href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative |
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preserved. |
Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>. |
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