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revision 1.90 by rms, Wed Dec 30 20:00:11 2009 UTC revision 1.92 by rms, Tue Mar 30 05:22:50 2010 UTC
# Line 20  the <a href="#History">History section</ Line 20  the <a href="#History">History section</
20  </p>  </p>
21    
22  <p>  <p>
23  <q>Free software</q> is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand
24  the concept, you should think of <q>free</q> as in <q>free speech,</q>  the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;
25  not as in <q>free beer.</q>  not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;
26  </p>  </p>
27    
28  <p>  <p>
# Line 89  make them. Line 89  make them.
89  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the  In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
90  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have
91  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
92  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
93    &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
94    as source code.
95  </p>  </p>
96    
97  <p>  <p>
# Line 138  the central freedoms; rather it protects Line 140  the central freedoms; rather it protects
140  </p>  </p>
141    
142  <p>  <p>
143  <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>noncommercial.</q>  A free  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free
144  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
145  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
146  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 159  someone else considers an improvement, t
159  <p>  <p>
160  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  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  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or
162  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that <q>if  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  you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in
164  that way also</q> can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that  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  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  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  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also
# Line 171  one. Line 173  one.
173    
174  <p>  <p>
175  In the GNU project, we use  In the GNU project, we use
176  <q><a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a></q>  &ldquo;<a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>&rdquo;
177  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
178  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted
179  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
# Line 182  ethical. Line 184  ethical.
184    
185  <p>  <p>
186  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software</a>
187  for a description of how <q>free software,</q> <q>copylefted software</q>  for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo; &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo;
188  and other categories of software relate to each other.  and other categories of software relate to each other.
189  </p>  </p>
190    
# Line 219  it is nonfree. Line 221  it is nonfree.
221    
222  <p>  <p>
223  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
224  like <q>give away</q> or <q>for free,</q> because those terms imply that  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  the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
226  as <q>piracy</q> embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See  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  <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  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  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
230  <q>free software</q></a> into various languages.  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
231  </p>  </p>
232    
233  <p>  <p>
# Line 289  free cultural works</a> applicable to an Line 291  free cultural works</a> applicable to an
291  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>
292    
293  <p>  <p>
294  Another group has started using the term <q>open source</q> to mean  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
295  something close (but not identical) to <q>free software.</q>  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We
296  prefer the term <q>free software</q> because, once you have heard that  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  it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
298  word <q>open</q> <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">  word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
299  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
300  </p>  </p>
301    
# Line 306  them if they like.</p> Line 308  them if they like.</p>
308    
309  <ul>  <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  <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  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  of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
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