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1  1<!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2    <!-- Parent-Version: 1.79 -->
3  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>  <title>What is free software?
4    - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
5    
6  <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" />
7  <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    
9    <!--#include virtual="/philosophy/po/free-sw.translist" -->
10  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
11    
12  <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>  <h2>What is free software?</h2>
13    
14    <blockquote class="note" id="fsf-licensing"><p style="font-size: 80%">
15    Have a question about free software licensing not answered here?
16    See our other <a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing">licensing resources</a>,
17    and if necessary contact the FSF Compliance Lab
18    at <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org">licensing@fsf.org</a>.</p>
19    </blockquote>
20    
21    <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
22    
23    <blockquote>
24    <p>
25    The free software definition presents the criteria for whether a
26    particular software program qualifies as free software.  From time to
27    time we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questions
28    about subtle issues.  See the <a href="#History">History section</a>
29    below for a list of changes that affect the definition of free
30    software.
31    </p>
32    </blockquote>
33    
34  <p>  <p>
35  We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; means software that respects users'
36  true about a particular software program for it to be considered free  freedom and community.  Roughly, it means that <b>the users have the
37  software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.  freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the
38  If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see  software</b>.  Thus, &ldquo;free software&rdquo; is a matter of
39  the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.  liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you should think of
40    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo; not as in
41    &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.  We sometimes call it &ldquo;libre
42    software,&rdquo; borrowing the French or Spanish word for
43    &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in freedom, to show we do not mean the software
44    is gratis.
45  </p>  </p>
46    
47  <p>  <p>
48  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand  We campaign for these freedoms because everyone deserves them.  With
49  the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;  these freedoms, the users (both individually and collectively) control
50  not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;  the program and what it does for them.  When users don't control the
51    program, we call it a &ldquo;nonfree&rdquo; or
52    &ldquo;proprietary&rdquo; program.  The nonfree program controls the
53    users, and the developer controls the program; this makes the
54    program <a href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
55    an instrument of unjust power</a>.
56  </p>  </p>
57    
58    <h4> The four essential freedoms</h4>
59    
60  <p>  <p>
61  Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,  A program is free software if the program's users have the
62  study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it means that the  four essential freedoms:
 program's users have the four essential freedoms:  
63  </p>  </p>
64    
65  <ul>  <ul>
66    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>    <li>The freedom to run the program as you wish,
67    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make        for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
68        it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a    <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it
69        precondition for this.        does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source
70          code is a precondition for this.
71    </li>    </li>
72    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
73        (freedom 2).        (freedom 2).
# Line 48  program's users have the four essential Line 80  program's users have the four essential
80  </ul>  </ul>
81    
82  <p>  <p>
83  A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,  A program is free software if it gives users adequately all of these
84  you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without  freedoms.  Otherwise, it is nonfree.  While we can distinguish various
85  modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to  nonfree distribution schemes in terms of how far they fall short of
86  <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these  being free, we consider them all equally unethical.</p>
87  things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay  
88  for permission to do so.  <p>In any given scenario, these freedoms must apply to whatever code
89  </p>  we plan to make use of, or lead others to make use of.  For instance,
90    consider a program A which automatically launches a program B to
91    handle some cases.  If we plan to distribute A as it stands, that
92    implies users will need B, so we need to judge whether both A and B
93    are free.  However, if we plan to modify A so that it doesn't use B,
94    only A needs to be free; B is not pertinent to that plan.</p>
95    
96  <p>  <p>
97  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial&rdquo;.  A free
98  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
99  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
100  notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
101    You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
102    obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
103    you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
104    <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
105  </p>  </p>
106    
107    <p>The rest of this page clarifies certain points about what makes
108    specific freedoms adequate or not.</p>
109    
110    <h4>The freedom to run the program as you wish</h4>
111    
112  <p>  <p>
113  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person  The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
114  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of  or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
# Line 75  for her purposes, but you are not entitl Line 121  for her purposes, but you are not entitl
121  </p>  </p>
122    
123  <p>  <p>
124  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable  The freedom to run the program as you wish means that you are not
125  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and  forbidden or stopped from making it run.  This has nothing to do with what
126  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary  functionality the program has, whether it is technically capable of
127  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there  functioning in any given environment, or whether it is useful for any
128  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program  particular computing activity.</p>
129  (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the  
130  freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to  <h4>The freedom to study the source code and make changes</h4>
 make them.  
 </p>  
131    
132  <p>  <p>
133  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
134  freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have  freedom to publish the changed versions) to be meaningful, you must have
135  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of  access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
136  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated  source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
137  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count  &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
# Line 97  as source code. Line 141  as source code.
141  <p>  <p>
142  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
143  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to  the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
144  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
145  a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through  practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or &ldquo;lockdown&rdquo;,
146  blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a  or (in its practitioners' perverse terminology) as &ldquo;secure
147  theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not  boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes an empty pretense rather than a
148  sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software  practical reality.  These binaries are not free
149  even if the source code they are compiled from is free.  software even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
150  </p>  </p>
151    
152  <p>  <p>
# Line 114  license is too restrictive to qualify as Line 158  license is too restrictive to qualify as
158  </p>  </p>
159    
160  <p>  <p>
161    Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
162    If your right to modify a program is limited, in substance, to changes that
163    someone else considers an improvement, that program is not free.
164    </p>
165    
166    <h4>The freedom to redistribute if you wish: basic requirements</h4>
167    
168    <p>Freedom to distribute (freedoms 2 and 3) means you are free to
169    redistribute copies, either with or without modifications, either
170    gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
171    <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
172    things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
173    for permission to do so.
174    </p>
175    
176    <p>
177    You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
178    privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
179    exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
180    notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
181    </p>
182    
183    <p>
184  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions  Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
185  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of  as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
186  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be  releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
# Line 123  as a free license. Line 190  as a free license.
190  </p>  </p>
191    
192  <p>  <p>
193  In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
194  irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
195  software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change  unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
196  its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the  for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
197  software is not free.  is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
198    (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
199    freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
200    make them.
201  </p>  </p>
202    
203  <p>  <h4>Copyleft</h4>
 However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free  
 software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central  
 freedoms.  For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that  
 when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny  
 other people the central freedoms.  This rule does not conflict with  
 the central freedoms; rather it protects them.  
 </p>  
204    
205  <p>  <p>
206  &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free  Certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free
207  program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,  software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central
208  and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software  freedoms.  For example, <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
209  is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.  (very simply stated) is the rule that when redistributing the program,
210  You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have  you cannot add restrictions to deny other people the central freedoms.
211  obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,  This rule does not conflict with the central freedoms; rather it
212  you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to  protects them.
 <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.  
213  </p>  </p>
214    
215  <p>  <p>
216  Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.  In the GNU project, we use copyleft to protect the four freedoms
217  If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that  legally for everyone.  We believe there are important reasons why
218  someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use
219    copyleft</a>.  However,
220    <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">
221    noncopylefted free software</a> is ethical
222    too.  See <a href="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free
223    Software</a> for a description of how &ldquo;free software,&rdquo;
224    &ldquo;copylefted software&rdquo; and other categories of software
225    relate to each other.
226    </p>
227    
228    <h4>Rules about packaging and distribution details</h4>
229    
230    <p>
231    Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
232    if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
233    versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
234    Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
235    name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
236    modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
237    burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
238    changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
239    the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
240  </p>  </p>
241    
242  <p>  <p>
243  However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they  Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
244  don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified versions, or  must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
245  your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.  Rules that &ldquo;if  on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
246  you make your version available in this way, you must make it available in  saying that if you have distributed a
247  that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too, on the same condition.  (Note that  modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
248  such a rule still leaves you the choice of whether to publish your version  must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
249  at all.)  Rules that require release of source code to the users for  whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
250  versions that you put into public use are also acceptable.  It is also  of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
251  acceptable for the license to require that you identify  are also acceptable.
 your modifications as yours, or that, if you have distributed a modified  
 version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send  
 one.  
252  </p>  </p>
253    
254  <p>  <p>
255  In the GNU project, we use  A special issue arises when a license requires changing the name by
256  <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>  which the program will be invoked from other programs.  That
257  to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But  effectively hampers you from releasing your changed version so that it
258  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted  can replace the original when invoked by those other programs.  This
259  free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why  sort of requirement is acceptable only if there's a suitable aliasing
260  <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,  facility that allows you to specify the original program's name as an
261  but if your program is non-copylefted free software, it is still basically  alias for the modified version.</p>
 ethical.  
 </p>  
262    
263  <p>  <h4>Export regulations</h4>
 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>  
264    
265  <p>  <p>
266  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>  Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
# Line 196  eliminate or override these restrictions Line 270  eliminate or override these restrictions
270  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this  is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
271  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the  way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
272  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses  jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
273  must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of  must not require obedience to any nontrivial export regulations as a
274  any of the essential freedoms.  condition of exercising any of the essential freedoms.
275    </p>
276    
277    <p>
278    Merely mentioning the existence of export regulations, without making
279    them a condition of the license itself, is acceptable since it does
280    not restrict users.  If an export regulation is actually trivial for
281    free software, then requiring it as a condition is not an actual
282    problem; however, it is a potential problem, since a later change in
283    export law could make the requirement nontrivial and thus render the
284    software nonfree.
285    </p>
286    
287    <h4>Legal considerations</h4>
288    
289    <p>
290    In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
291    irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
292    software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively add
293    restrictions to its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give
294    cause, the software is not free.
295  </p>  </p>
296    
297  <p>  <p>
298    A free license may not require compliance with the license of a
299    nonfree program.  Thus, for instance, if a license requires you to
300    comply with the licenses of &ldquo;all the programs you use&rdquo;, in
301    the case of a user that runs nonfree programs this would require
302    compliance with the licenses of those nonfree programs; that makes the
303    license nonfree.
304    </p>
305    
306    <p>
307    It is acceptable for a free license to specify which jurisdiction's
308    law applies, or where litigation must be done, or both.
309    </p>
310    
311    <h4>Contract-based licenses</h4>
312    
313    <p>
314  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits  Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
315  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a  on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
316  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it  copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
# Line 219  legitimate, we will have to think about Line 329  legitimate, we will have to think about
329  it is nonfree.  it is nonfree.
330  </p>  </p>
331    
332    <h4>Use the right words when talking about free software</h4>
333    
334  <p>  <p>
335  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms  When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
336  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that  like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
# Line 230  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs Line 342  a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs
342  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.  &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
343  </p>  </p>
344    
345    <h4>How we interpret these criteria</h4>
346    
347  <p>  <p>
348  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
349  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide  definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
# Line 244  a conclusion about a new issue, we often Line 358  a conclusion about a new issue, we often
358  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.  it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
359  </p>  </p>
360    
361    <h4>Get help with free licenses</h4>
362    
363  <p>  <p>
364  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free  If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
365  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list  software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
# Line 266  help you can ensure that the license rea Line 382  help you can ensure that the license rea
382  and avoid various practical problems.  and avoid various practical problems.
383  </p>  </p>
384    
385  <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>  <h3 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h3>
386    
387  <p>  <p>
388  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,  <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
# Line 278  manuals are in effect part of the softwa Line 394  manuals are in effect part of the softwa
394  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of  The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
395  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,  practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
396  such as educational works and reference  such as educational works and reference
397  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known  works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best-known
398  example.  example.
399  </p>  </p>
400    
# Line 288  has been extended to a definition of <a Line 404  has been extended to a definition of <a
404  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.  free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
405  </p>  </p>
406    
407  <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>  <h3 id="open-source">Open Source?</h3>
408    
409  <p>  <p>
410  Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean  Another group uses the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
411  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We  something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software&rdquo;.  We
412  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
413  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
414  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">
415  never refers to freedom</a>.  never refers to freedom</a>.
416  </p>  </p>
417    
418  <h2 id="History">History</h2>  <h3 id="History">History</h3>
419    
420  <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
421  clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with  the list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly what
422  links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review  was changed.</p>
 them if they like.</p>  
423    
424  <ul>  <ul>
425    
426    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.152&amp;r2=1.153">Version
427    1.153</a>: Clarify that freedom to run the program means nothing stops
428    you from making it run.</li>
429    
430    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.140&amp;r2=1.141">Version
431    1.141</a>: Clarify which code needs to be free.</li>
432    
433    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.134&amp;r2=1.135">Version
434    1.135</a>: Say each time that freedom 0 is the freedom to run the program
435    as you wish.</li>
436    
437    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.133&amp;r2=1.134">Version
438    1.134</a>: Freedom 0 is not a matter of the program's functionality.</li>
439    
440    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.130&amp;r2=1.131">Version
441    1.131</a>: A free license may not require compliance with a nonfree license
442    of another program.</li>
443    
444    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.128&amp;r2=1.129">Version
445    1.129</a>: State explicitly that choice of law and choice of forum
446    specifications are allowed.  (This was always our policy.)</li>
447    
448    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.121&amp;r2=1.122">Version
449    1.122</a>: An export control requirement is a real problem if the
450    requirement is nontrivial; otherwise it is only a potential problem.</li>
451    
452    <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.117&amp;r2=1.118">Version
453    1.118</a>: Clarification: the issue is limits on your right to modify,
454    not on what modifications you have made.  And modifications are not limited
455    to &ldquo;improvements&rdquo;</li>
456    
457    <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
458    1.111</a>: Clarify 1.77 by saying that only
459    retroactive <em>restrictions</em> are unacceptable.  The copyright
460    holders can always grant additional <em>permission</em> for use of the
461    work by releasing the work in another way in parallel.</li>
462    
463    <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
464    1.105</a>: Reflect, in the brief statement of freedom 1, the point
465    (already stated in version 1.80) that it includes really using your modified
466    version for your computing.</li>
467    
468  <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
469  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>
470    
# Line 376  licenses.</li> Line 533  licenses.</li>
533    
534  <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  <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
535  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of  1.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
536  versions you distribute to the author.</li>  versions you distribute to previous developers on request.</li>
537    
538  </ul>  </ul>
539    
540  <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
541  changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.  other changes in this page that do not affect the definition or its
542  Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would  interpretations.  For instance, the list does not include changes in
543  like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on  asides, formatting, spelling, punctuation, or other parts of the page.
544  our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb  You can review the complete list of changes to the page through
545    the <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
546  interface</a>.</p>  interface</a>.</p>
547    
 </div>  
548    
549    </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
550  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
   
551  <div id="footer">  <div id="footer">
552    <div class="unprintable">
553    
554  <p>  <p>Please send general FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
 Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  
555  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
556  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
557  the FSF.  the FSF.  Broken links and other corrections or suggestions can be sent
558  <br />  to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
559  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to  
560  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.  <p><!-- TRANSLATORS: Ignore the original text in this paragraph,
561  </p>          replace it with the translation of these two:
562    
563            We work hard and do our best to provide accurate, good quality
564            translations.  However, we are not exempt from imperfection.
565            Please send your comments and general suggestions in this regard
566            to <a href="mailto:web-translators@gnu.org">
567            &lt;web-translators@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p>
568    
569            <p>For information on coordinating and submitting translations of
570            our web pages, see <a
571            href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
572            README</a>. -->
573    Please see the <a
574    href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
575    README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting translations
576    of this article.</p>
577    </div>
578    
579  <p>  <!-- Regarding copyright, in general, standalone pages (as opposed to
580  Please see the       files generated as part of manuals) on the GNU web server should
581  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations       be under CC BY-ND 4.0.  Please do NOT change or remove this
582  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting       without talking with the webmasters or licensing team first.
583  translations of this article.       Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the
584  </p>       document.  For web pages, it is ok to list just the latest year the
585         document was modified, or published.
586        
587         If you wish to list earlier years, that is ok too.
588         Either "2001, 2002, 2003" or "2001-2003" are ok for specifying
589         years, as long as each year in the range is in fact a copyrightable
590         year, i.e., a year in which the document was published (including
591         being publicly visible on the web or in a revision control system).
592        
593         There is more detail about copyright years in the GNU Maintainers
594         Information document, www.gnu.org/prep/maintain. -->
595    
596    <p>Copyright &copy; 1996, 2002, 2004-2007, 2009-2016
597    Free Software Foundation, Inc.</p>
598    
599    <p>This page is licensed under a <a rel="license"
600    href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative
601    Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>
602    
603  <p>  <!--#include virtual="/server/bottom-notes.html" -->
 Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,  
 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  
 </p>  
 <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
 permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  
 preserved.  
 </p>  
604    
605  <p>  <p class="unprintable">Updated:
 Updated:  
606  <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
607  $Date$  $Date$
608  <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
609  </p>  </p>
610  </div>  </div>
   
 <div id="translations">  
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 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.af.html">Afrikaans</a>&nbsp;[af]</li>  
 <!-- Arabic -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ar.html">&#1575;&#1604;&#1593;&#1585;&#1576;&#1610;&#1577;</a>&nbsp;[ar]</li>  
 <!-- Azerbaijani -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.az.html">Az&#x0259;rbaycanca</a>&nbsp;[az]</li>  
 <!-- Bulgarian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bg.html">&#x431;&#x44A;&#x43B;&#x433;&#x430;&#x440;&#x441;&#x43A;&#x438;</a>&nbsp;[bg]</li>  
 <!-- Bengali -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bn.html">&#2476;&#2494;&#2434;&#2482;&#2494;</a>&nbsp;[bn]</li>  
 <!-- Bosnian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.bs.html">bosanski</a>&nbsp;[bs]</li>  
 <!-- Catalan -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li>  
 <!-- Czech -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>&nbsp;[cs]</li>  
 <!-- Danish -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">dansk</a>&nbsp;[da]</li>  
 <!-- German -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>  
 <!-- Greek -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.el.html">&#x03b5;&#x03bb;&#x03bb;&#x03b7;&#x03bd;&#x03b9;&#x03ba;&#x03ac;</a>&nbsp;[el]</li>  
 <!-- English -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>  
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 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>  
 <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->  
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 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>  
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 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>  
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 <!-- Romanian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>  
 <!-- Russian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#x0440;&#x0443;&#x0441;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;&#x0439;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li>  
 <!-- Slovak -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sk.html">sloven&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sk]</li>  
 <!--- Slovenian -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">sloven&scaron;&#269;ina</a>&nbsp;[sl]</li>  
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 <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->  
 <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li>  
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611  </div>  </div>
   
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612  </body>  </body>
613  </html>  </html>

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