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1  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2    
3  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>  <title>What is free software? - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
4    
5  <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />  <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  <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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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>What is free software?</h2>
14    
15    <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
16    
17    <blockquote>
18  <p>  <p>
19  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
20  true about a particular software program for it to be considered free  particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
21  software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.  time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
22  If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see  about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
23  the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.  below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
24    software.
25  </p>  </p>
26    </blockquote>
27    
28  <p>  <p>
29  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
30  the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;  freedom and community.  Roughly, <b>the users have the freedom to run,
31  not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;  copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software</b>.  With these
32    freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control the
33    program and what it does for them.
34  </p>  </p>
35    
36  <p>  <p>
37  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,  When users don't control the program, the program controls the users.
38  study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it means that the  The developer controls the program, and through it controls the users.
39  program's users have the four essential freedoms:  This nonfree or &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program is therefore an
40    instrument of unjust power.
41    </p>
42    
43    <p>
44    Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.
45    To understand the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as
46    in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.
47    </p>
48    
49    <p>
50    A program is free software if the program's users have the
51    four essential freedoms:
52  </p>  </p>
53    
54  <ul>  <ul>
55    <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>
56    <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
57        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
58        precondition for this.        code is a precondition for this.
59    </li>    </li>
60    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
61        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
# Line 97  as source code. Line 117  as source code.
117  <p>  <p>
118  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
119  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
120  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
121  a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
122  blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
123  theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a theoretical fiction rather
124  sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software  than a practical freedom.  This is not sufficient.  In other words,
125  even if the source code they are compiled from is free.  these binaries are not free software even if the source code they are
126    compiled from is free.
127  </p>  </p>
128    
129  <p>  <p>
# Line 114  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 135  license is too restrictive to qualify as
135  </p>  </p>
136    
137  <p>  <p>
138  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to use release your modified versions  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
139  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
140  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
141  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a  a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
# Line 125  as a free license. Line 146  as a free license.
146  <p>  <p>
147  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
148  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
149  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
150  its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the  restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
151  software is not free.  cause, the software is not free.
152  </p>  </p>
153    
154  <p>  <p>
# Line 140  the central freedoms; rather it protects Line 161  the central freedoms; rather it protects
161  </p>  </p>
162    
163  <p>  <p>
164  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
165  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
166  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
167  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
# Line 157  someone else considers an improvement, t Line 178  someone else considers an improvement, t
178  </p>  </p>
179    
180  <p>  <p>
181  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
182  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or  if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
183  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that &ldquo;if  versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
184  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
185  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
186  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
187  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for  burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
188  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also  changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
189  acceptable for the license to require that you identify  the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
190  your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified  </p>
191  version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send  
192  one.  <p>
193    A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
194    which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
195    effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
196    can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
197    sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
198    facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
199    alias for the modified version.</p>
200    
201    <p>
202    Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
203    must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
204    on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
205    saying that if you have distributed a
206    modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
207    must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
208    whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
209    of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
210    are also acceptable.
211  </p>  </p>
212    
213  <p>  <p>
214  In the GNU project, we use  In the GNU project, we use
215  &ldquo;<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>&rdquo;  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
216  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
217  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted
218  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
219  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
220  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
221  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.  
222  </p>  </p>
223    
224  <p>  <p>
# Line 278  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 311  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
311  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
312  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
313  such as educational works and reference  such as educational works and reference
314  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
315  example.  example.
316  </p>  </p>
317    
# Line 292  free cultural works</a> applicable to an Line 325  free cultural works</a> applicable to an
325    
326  <p>  <p>
327  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
328  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
329  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that  prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
330  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
331  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
# Line 301  never refers to freedom</a>. Line 334  never refers to freedom</a>.
334    
335  <h2 id="History">History</h2>  <h2 id="History">History</h2>
336    
337  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition to  <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition.  Here is
338  clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with  the list of changes, along with links to show exactly what was
339  links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review  changed.</p>
 them if they like.</p>  
340    
341  <ul>  <ul>
342    
343    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.110&amp;r2=1.111">Version
344    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
345    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
346    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
347    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
348    
349    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.104&amp;r2=1.105">Version
350    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
351    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
352    version for your computing.</li>
353    
354  <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
355  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>
356    
# Line 380  versions you distribute to the author.</ Line 423  versions you distribute to the author.</
423    
424  </ul>  </ul>
425    
426  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other  <p>There are gaps in the version numbers shown above because there are
427  changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition as such.
428  Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would  These changes are in other parts of the page.  You can review the
429  like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on  complete list of changes to the page through
430  our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb  the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
431  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
432    
433  </div>  </div>
# Line 404  Please send broken links and other corre Line 447  Please send broken links and other corre
447  </p>  </p>
448    
449  <p>  <p>
450  Please see the  For information on coordinating and submitting translations of this
451  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations  article, see <a
452  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting  href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations README</a>.
 translations of this article.  
453  </p>  </p>
454    
455  <p>  <p>
456  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,  Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,
457  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
458  </p>  </p>
459  <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
460  permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/us/">Creative
461  preserved.  Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License</a>.
462  </p>  </p>
463    
464  <p>  <p>
# Line 427  $Date$ Line 469  $Date$
469  </p>  </p>
470  </div>  </div>
471    
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