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+revision 1.98 by rms,
Fri Sep 24 14:12:05 2010 UTC
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+ <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
- <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
-     "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
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- <head>
  <title>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</title>
- <meta http-equiv="content-type" content='text/html; charset=utf-8' />
- <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/gnu.css" />
- <link rev="made" href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org" />
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- <!-- This document is in XML, and xhtml 1.0 -->
+ <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="GNU, FSF, Free Software Foundation, Linux, Emacs, GCC, Unix, Free Software, Operating System, GNU Kernel, HURD, GNU HURD, Hurd" />
- <!-- Please make sure to properly nest your tags -->
+ <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="What's New" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
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+ <link rel="alternate" title="New Free Software" href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/quagga.rss" type="application/rss+xml" />
- <!-- See validator.w3.org -->
- <body>
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
- <p><a href="#translations">Translations</a> of this page</p>
+ <h2>The Free Software Definition</h2>
- <h3>The Free Software Definition</h3>
  <p>
- <a href="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><img src="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg" alt=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] " width="160" height="200" /></a>
+ We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be
+ true about a particular software program for it to be considered free
+ software.  From time to time we revise this definition to clarify it.
+ If you would like to review the changes we've made, please see
+ the <a href="#History">History section</a> below for more information.
  </p>
  <p>
- We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be
+ &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand
- true about a particular software program for it to be considered
+ the concept, you should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech,&rdquo;
- free software.</p>
+ not as in &ldquo;free beer.&rdquo;
+ </p>
  <p>
- ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the
+ Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,
- concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in
+ study, change and improve the software.  More precisely, it means that the
- ``free beer.''</p>
+ program's users have the four essential freedoms:
- <p>
+ </p>
- Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy,
- distribute, study, change and improve the software.  More precisely,
- it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:</p>
  <ul>
    <li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
-   <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs
+   <li>The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make
-       (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>
+       it do what you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a
+       precondition for this.
+   </li>
    <li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
-       (freedom 2).</li>
+       (freedom 2).
-   <li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
+   </li>
-      to the public, so that the whole community benefits
+   <li>The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions
-       (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>
+       to others (freedom 3).  By doing this you can give the whole
+       community a chance to benefit from your changes.
+       Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
+   </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
- A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.
+ A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms.  Thus,
- Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or
+ you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or without
- without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for
+ modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for distribution, to
- distribution, to <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being
+ <a href="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</a>.  Being free to do these
- free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not
+ things means (among other things) that you do not have to ask or pay
- have to ask or pay for permission.</p>
+ for permission to do so.
+ </p>
  <p>
  You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them
  privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they
  exist.  If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to
- notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.</p>
+ notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.
+ </p>
  <p>
- The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person
+ The freedom to run the program means the freedom for any kind of person
- or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind
+ or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind of
- of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently
+ overall job and purpose, without being required to communicate about it
- with the developer or any other specific entity.</p>
+ with the developer or any other specific entity.  In this freedom, it is
+ the <em>user's</em> purpose that matters, not the <em>developer's</em>
+ purpose; you as a user are free to run the program for your purposes,
+ and if you distribute it to someone else, she is then free to run it
+ for her purposes, but you are not entitled to impose your purposes on her.
+ </p>
  <p>
  The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable
  forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and
- unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is
+ unmodified versions.  (Distributing programs in runnable form is necessary
- necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is
+ for conveniently installable free operating systems.)  It is OK if there
- ok if there is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a
+ is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a certain program
- certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but
+ (since some languages don't support that feature), but you must have the
- you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you find
+ freedom to redistribute such forms should you find or develop a way to
- or develop a way to make them.</p>
+ make them.
- <p>
+ </p>
- In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved
- versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of
+ <p>
- the program.  Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary
+ In order for freedoms 1 and 3 (the freedom to make changes and the
- condition for free software.</p>
+ freedom to publish improved versions) to be meaningful, you must have
- <p>
+ access to the source code of the program.  Therefore, accessibility of
- In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as
+ source code is a necessary condition for free software.  Obfuscated
- long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the
+ &ldquo;source code&rdquo; is not real source code and does not count
- power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give
+ as source code.
- cause, the software is not free.</p>
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Freedom 1 includes the freedom to use your changed version in place of
+ the original.  If the program is delivered in a product designed to
+ run someone else's modified versions but refuse to run yours &mdash;
+ a practice known as &ldquo;tivoization&rdquo; or (through
+ blacklisting) as &ldquo;secure boot&rdquo; &mdash; freedom 1 becomes a
+ theoretical fiction rather than a practical freedom.  This is not
+ sufficient.  In other words, these binaries are not free software
+ even if the source code they are compiled from is free.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
+ subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
+ cannot merge in a suitably licensed existing module &mdash; for instance, if it
+ requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add &mdash; then the
+ license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Freedom 3 includes the freedom to release your modified versions
+ as free software.  A free license may also permit other ways of
+ releasing them; in other words, it does not have to be
+ a <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a> license.  However, a
+ license that requires modified versions to be nonfree does not qualify
+ as a free license.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be permanent and
+ irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the
+ software has the power to revoke the license, or retroactively change
+ its terms, without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the
+ software is not free.
+ </p>
  <p>
  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>
+ the central freedoms; rather it protects them.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ &ldquo;Free software&rdquo; does not mean &ldquo;noncommercial.&rdquo;  A free
+ program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
+ and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
+ is no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.
+ You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you may have
+ obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got your copies,
+ you always have the freedom to copy and change the software, even to
+ <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
+ If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that
+ someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ However, rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable,
+ if they don't substantively limit your freedom to release modified
+ versions, or your freedom to make and use modified versions privately.
+ Thus, it is acceptable for the license to require that you change the
+ name of the modified version, remove a logo, or identify your
+ modifications as yours.  As long as these requirements are not so
+ burdensome that they effectively hamper you from releasing your
+ changes, they are acceptable; you're already making other changes to
+ the program, so you won't have trouble making a few more.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Rules that &ldquo;if you make your version available in this way, you
+ must make it available in that way also&rdquo; can be acceptable too,
+ on the same condition.  An example of such an acceptable rule is one
+ saying that if you have distributed a
+ modified version and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you
+ must send one.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
+ whether to distribute your version at all.)  Rules that require release
+ of source code to the users for versions that you put into public use
+ are also acceptable.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ In the GNU project, we use
+ <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">copyleft</a>
+ to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
+ <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">noncopylefted
+ free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are important reasons why
+ <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html">it is better to use copyleft</a>,
+ but if your program is noncopylefted free software, it is still basically
+ 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>
+ Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control regulations</a>
+ and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to distribute copies of
+ programs internationally.  Software developers do not have the power to
+ eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
+ is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
+ way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
+ jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
+ must not require obedience to any export regulations as a condition of
+ any of the essential freedoms.
+ </p>
+ <p>
+ Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are limits
+ on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.  If a
+ copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described above, it
+ is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never anticipated
+ (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some free software
+ licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can impose a much larger
+ range of possible restrictions.  That means there are many possible ways
+ such a license could be unacceptably restrictive and nonfree.
+ </p>
  <p>
- You may have paid money to get copies of free software, or you
+ We can't possibly list all the ways that might happen.  If a
- may have obtained copies at no charge.  But regardless of how you got
+ contract-based license restricts the user in an unusual way that
- your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the
+ copyright-based licenses cannot, and which isn't mentioned here as
- software, even to <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</a>.</p>
+ legitimate, we will have to think about it, and we will probably conclude
- <p>
+ it is nonfree.
- ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''.  A free program
+ </p>
- must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and
- commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software is
+ <p>
- no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important.</p>
+ When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms
- <p>
+ like &ldquo;give away&rdquo; or &ldquo;for free,&rdquo; because those terms imply that
- Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they
+ the issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such
- don't substantively block your freedom to release modified versions.
+ as &ldquo;piracy&rdquo; embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
- Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must
+ <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases that
- make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the
+ are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.  We also have
- same condition.  (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of
+ a list of proper <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations of
- whether to publish the program or not.)  It is also acceptable for the
+ &ldquo;free software&rdquo;</a> into various languages.
- license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version
+ </p>
- and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one,
- or that you identify yourself on your modifications.</p>
- <p>
- In the GNU project, we use <a href="/copyleft/copyleft.html">``copyleft''</a>
- to protect these freedoms legally for everyone.  But
- <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware">non-copylefted
- free software</a> also exists.  We believe there are
- important reasons why <a href="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is
- better to use copyleft</a>, but if your program is non-copylefted free
- software, we can still use it.</p>
- <p>
- 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.</p>
- <p>
- Sometimes government <a id="exportcontrol">export control
- regulations</a> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to
- distribute copies of programs internationally.  Software developers do
- not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but
- what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of
- use of the program.  In this way, the restrictions will not affect
- activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments.</p>
- <p>
- Most free software licenses are based on copyright, and there are
- limits on what kinds of requirements can be imposed through copyright.
- If a copyright-based license respects freedom in the ways described
- above, it is unlikely to have some other sort of problem that we never
- anticipated (though this does happen occasionally).  However, some
- free software licenses are based on contracts, and contracts can
- impose a much larger range of possible restrictions.  That means there
- are many possible ways such a license could be unacceptably
- restrictive and non-free.</p>
- <p>
- We can't possibly list all the possible contract restrictions that
- would be unacceptable.  If a contract-based license restricts the user
- in an unusual way that copyright-based licenses cannot, and which
- isn't mentioned here as legitimate, we will have to think about it,
- and we will probably decide it is non-free.</p>
- <p>
- When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like
- ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the
- issue is about price, not freedom.  Some common terms such as
- ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse.  See
- <a href="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases
- that are Worth Avoiding</a> for a discussion of these terms.
- We also have a list of <a href="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations
- of "free software"</a> into various languages.</p>
  <p>
  Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software
- definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To
+ definition require careful thought for their interpretation.  To decide
- decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free
+ whether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,
- software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine
+ we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits their
- whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words.  If a
+ spirit as well as the precise words.  If a license includes unconscionable
- license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we
+ restrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issue
- did not anticipate the issue in these criteria.  Sometimes a license
+ in these criteria.  Sometimes a license requirement raises an issue
- requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought,
+ that calls for extensive thought, including discussions with a lawyer,
- including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the
+ before we can decide if the requirement is acceptable.  When we reach
- requirement is acceptable.  When we reach a conclusion about a new
+ a conclusion about a new issue, we often update these criteria to make
- issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why
+ it easier to see why certain licenses do or don't qualify.
- certain licenses do or don't qualify.</p>
+ </p>
- <p>
- If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a
+ <p>
- free software license, see our <a
+ If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a free
- href="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</a>.  If the
+ software license, see our <a href="/licenses/license-list.html">list
- license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us
+ of licenses</a>.  If the license you are concerned with is not
- about it by sending us email at <a
+ listed there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at
- href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.</p> <p>
+ <a href="mailto:licensing@gnu.org">&lt;licensing@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
- If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the FSF
+ </p>
- by writing to that address. The proliferation of different free
- software licenses means increased work for users in understanding the
+ <p>
- licenses; we may be able to help you find an existing Free Software
+ If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact the
- license that meets your needs.
+ Free Software Foundation first by writing to that address. The
+ proliferation of different free software licenses means increased work
+ for users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to help you
+ find an existing free software license that meets your needs.
  </p>
  <p>
  If that isn't possible, if you really need a new license, with our
- help you can ensure that the license really is a Free Software license
+ help you can ensure that the license really is a free software license
  and avoid various practical problems.
  </p>
- <hr />
- <p>
+ <h2 id="beyond-software">Beyond Software</h2>
- Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean
- something close (but not identical) to "free software".  We prefer the
- term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom
- rather than price, <a href="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls
- to mind freedom</a>.  The word "open" never does that.</p>
- <hr />
- <h4><a href="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</a></h4>
- <!-- All pages on the GNU web server should have the section about    -->
- <!-- verbatim copying.  Please do NOT remove this without talking     -->
- <!-- with the webmasters first. -->
- <!-- Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the document -->
- <!-- and that it is like this "2001, 2002" not this "2001-2002." -->
- <div class="translations">
- <p><a id="translations"></a>
- <b>Translations of this page</b>:<br />
- <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->
- <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->
- <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->
- <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->
- <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
- <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->
- <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
- <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
- <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
- <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
- <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->
- <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->
- [
-   <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ca.html">Catal&#x00e0;</a>       <!-- Catalan -->
- <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->
+ <p>
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>
+ <a href="/philosophy/free-doc.html">Software manuals must be free</a>,
+ for the same reasons that software must be free, and because the
+ manuals are in effect part of the software.
+ </p>
- <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->
+ <p>
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>
+ The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works of
+ practical use &mdash; that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,
+ such as educational works and reference
+ works.  <a href="http://wikipedia.org">Wikipedia</a> is the best known
+ example.
+ </p>
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">&#x010c;esky</a>        <!-- Czech -->
+ <p>
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.da.html">Dansk</a>       <!-- Danish -->
+ Any kind of work <em>can</em> be free, and the definition of free software
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">Deutsch</a>     <!-- German -->
+ has been extended to a definition of <a href="http://freedomdefined.org/">
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</a>
+ free cultural works</a> applicable to any kind of works.
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a>      <!-- Spanish -->
- <!-- Persian/Farsi -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a>     <!-- French -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galego</a>      <!-- Galician -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>    <!-- Hebrew -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Hrvatski</a>    <!-- Croatian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>    <!-- Indonesian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italiano</a>    <!-- Italian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>    <!-- Japanese -->
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- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Magyar</a>      <!-- Hungarian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>  <!-- Dutch -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norsk</a>       <!-- Norwegian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polski</a>      <!-- Polish -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portugu&#x0ea;s</a>     <!-- Portuguese -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>        <!-- Romanian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a> <!-- Russian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovinsko</a>   <!--- Slovenian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0421;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a> <!-- Serbian -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>     <!-- Tagalog -->
- | <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>        <!-- Turkish -->
- ]
  </p>
- </div>
- <div class="copyright">
+ <h2 id="open-source">Open Source?</h2>
  <p>
- Return to the <a href="/home.html">GNU Project home page</a>.
+ Another group has started using the term &ldquo;open source&rdquo; to mean
+ something close (but not identical) to &ldquo;free software.&rdquo;  We
+ prefer the term &ldquo;free software&rdquo; because, once you have heard that
+ it refers to freedom rather than price, it calls to mind freedom.  The
+ word &ldquo;open&rdquo; <a href="/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">
+ never refers to freedom</a>.
  </p>
+ <h2 id="History">History</h2>
+ <p>From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition to
+ clarify it.  Here we provide a list of those modifications, along with
+ links to illustrate exactly what changed, so that others can review
+ them if they like.</p>
+ <ul>
+ <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
+.92</a>: Clarify that obfuscated code does not qualify as source code.</li>
+ <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
+.90</a>: Clarify that freedom 3 means the right to distribute copies
+ of your own modified or improved version, not a right to participate
+ in someone else's development project.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.88&amp;r2=1.89">Version
+.89</a>: Freedom 3 includes the right to release modified versions as
+ free software.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.79&amp;r2=1.80">Version
+.80</a>: Freedom 1 must be practical, not just theoretical;
+ i.e., no tivoization.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.76&amp;r2=1.77">Version
+.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
+ unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
+ replacement.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.73&amp;r2=1.74">Version
+.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
+ in some places but not reflected everywhere:
+ <ul>
+ <li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
+ substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
+ Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
+ <li>The right to merge in existing modules
+ refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
+ <li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
+ <li>Imposing a license change constitutes revoking the old license.</li>
+ </ul>
+ </li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.56&amp;r2=1.57">Version
+.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.45&amp;r2=1.46">Version
+.46</a>: Clarify whose purpose is significant in the freedom to run
+ the program for any purpose.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.40&amp;r2=1.41">Version
+.41</a>: Clarify wording about contract-based licenses.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.39&amp;r2=1.40">Version
+.40</a>: Explain that a free license must allow to you use other
+ available free software to create your modifications.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.38&amp;r2=1.39">Version
+.39</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
+ provide source for versions of the software you put into public
+ use.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.30&amp;r2=1.31">Version
+.31</a>: Note that it is acceptable for a license to require you to
+ identify yourself as the author of modifications.  Other minor
+ clarifications throughout the text.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.22&amp;r2=1.23">Version
+.23</a>: Address potential problems related to contract-based
+ licenses.</li>
+ <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.15&amp;r2=1.16">Version
+.16</a>: Explain why distribution of binaries is important.</li>
+ <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
+.11</a>: Note that a free license may require you to send a copy of
+ versions you distribute to the author.</li>
+ </ul>
+ <p>There are gaps in the version numbers because there are many other
+ changes that do not affect the substance of the definition at all.
+ Instead, they fix links, add translations, and so on.  If you would
+ like to review the complete list of changes, you can do so on
+ our <a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;view=log">cvsweb
+ interface</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+ <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
+ <div id="footer">
  <p>
  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
- <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.
+ <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org">&lt;gnu@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
- There are also <a href="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to contact</a>
+ There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
  the FSF.
  <br />
- Please send broken links and other corrections (or suggestions) to
+ Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
- <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.
+ <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org">&lt;webmasters@gnu.org&gt;</a>.
  </p>
  <p>
-Line 288 
 translations of this article.
+Line 414 
 translations of this article.
  </p>
  <p>
- Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Free
+ Copyright &copy; 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
- Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA
+, 2006, 2007, 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-,  USA
+ </p>
- <br />
+ <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
- Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
  permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is
  preserved.
  </p>
-Line 300 
 preserved.
+Line 425 
 preserved.
  <p>
  Updated:
  <!-- timestamp start -->
- $Date$ $Author$
+ $Date$
  <!-- timestamp end -->
  </p>
  </div>
+ <div id="translations">
+ <h4>Translations of this page</h4>
+ <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical by language code.
+      Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German.
+      Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text.
+      If you add a new language here, please
+      advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to
+       - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html
+       - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway"
+       - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias
+       to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases
+      Please also check you have the language code right; see:
+      http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php
+      If the 2-letter ISO 639-1 code is not available,
+      use the 3-letter ISO 639-2.
+      Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
+ <ul class="translations-list">
+ <!-- Afrikaans -->
+ <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>
+ <!-- Esperanto -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.eo.html">Esperanto</a>&nbsp;[eo]</li>
+ <!-- Spanish -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>
+ <!-- Farsi (Persian) -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fa.html">&#x0641;&#x0627;&#x0631;&#x0633;&#x06cc;</a>&nbsp;[fa]</li>
+ <!-- French -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>
+ <!-- Galician -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">galego</a>&nbsp;[gl]</li>
+ <!-- Hebrew -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>
+ <!-- Croatian -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">hrvatski</a>&nbsp;[hr]</li>
+ <!-- Hungarian -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">magyar</a>&nbsp;[hu]</li>
+ <!-- Indonesian -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Bahasa Indonesia</a>&nbsp;[id]</li>
+ <!-- Italian -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">italiano</a>&nbsp;[it]</li>
+ <!-- Japanese -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li>
+ <!-- Korean -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li>
+ <!-- Norwegian Bokmål -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nb.html">norsk (bokm&aring;l)</a>&nbsp;[nb]</li>
+ <!-- Dutch -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Nederlands</a>&nbsp;[nl]</li>
+ <!-- Polish -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>
+ <!-- Brazilian Portuguese -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.pt-br.html">portugu&#x0ea;s do Brasil</a>&nbsp;[pt-br]</li>
+ <!-- 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>
+ <!-- Serbian -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sr.html">&#x0441;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li>
+ <!-- Swedish -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.sv.html">svenska</a>&nbsp;[sv]</li>
+ <!-- Tamil -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.ta.html">&#2980;&#2990;&#3007;&#2996;&#3021;</a>&nbsp;[ta]</li>
+ <!-- Tagalog -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tl.html">Tagalog</a>&nbsp;[tl]</li>
+ <!-- Turkish -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">T&#x00fc;rk&#x00e7;e</a>&nbsp;[tr]</li>
+ <!-- Chinese (Simplified) -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-cn.html">&#x7b80;&#x4f53;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-cn]</li>
+ <!-- Chinese (Traditional) -->
+ <li><a href="/philosophy/free-sw.zh-tw.html">&#x7e41;&#x9ad4;&#x4e2d;&#x6587;</a>&nbsp;[zh-tw]</li>
+ </ul>
+ </div>
+ </div>
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