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Explain why distribution of binaries is important.
| 1 | webcvs | 1.1 | <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML 2.0//EN"> |
| 2 | <HTML> | ||
| 3 | <HEAD> | ||
| 4 | webcvs | 1.2 | <TITLE>The Free Software Definition - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE> |
| 5 | webcvs | 1.1 | <LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org"> |
| 6 | </HEAD> | ||
| 7 | <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#1F00FF" ALINK="#FF0000" VLINK="#9900DD"> | ||
| 8 | webcvs | 1.2 | <H3>The Free Software Definition</H3> |
| 9 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 10 | <A HREF="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><IMG SRC="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg" | ||
| 11 | ALT=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] " | ||
| 12 | WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="200"></A> | ||
| 13 | |||
| 14 | [ | ||
| 15 | rms46 | 1.10 | <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical --> |
| 16 | <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! --> | ||
| 17 | Sisao | 1.15 | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A> |
| 18 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A> | ||
| 19 | joy | 1.4 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A> |
| 20 | webcvs | 1.1 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A> |
| 21 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A> | ||
| 22 | lmiguel | 1.9 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A> |
| 23 | guido_arnold | 1.14 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A> |
| 24 | lmiguel | 1.6 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A> |
| 25 | rms46 | 1.7 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A> |
| 26 | webcvs | 1.1 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A> |
| 27 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A> | ||
| 28 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A> | ||
| 29 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A> | ||
| 30 | wkotwica | 1.8 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A> |
| 31 | webcvs | 1.1 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A> |
| 32 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A> | ||
| 33 | lmiguel | 1.12 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A> |
| 34 | webcvs | 1.1 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A> |
| 35 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A> | ||
| 36 | rms46 | 1.10 | <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical --> |
| 37 | <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! --> | ||
| 38 | webcvs | 1.1 | ] |
| 39 | <P> | ||
| 40 | |||
| 41 | webcvs | 1.2 | We maintain this free software definition to show clearly what must be |
| 42 | true about a particular software program for it to be considered | ||
| 43 | rms | 1.5 | free software. |
| 44 | webcvs | 1.2 | |
| 45 | <P> | ||
| 46 | |||
| 47 | paulv | 1.3 | ``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the |
| 48 | concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in | ||
| 49 | ``free beer.'' | ||
| 50 | webcvs | 1.1 | <P> |
| 51 | rms | 1.5 | Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, |
| 52 | webcvs | 1.1 | distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, |
| 53 | it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software: | ||
| 54 | <P> | ||
| 55 | |||
| 56 | <UL> | ||
| 57 | <LI>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). | ||
| 58 | <LI>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs | ||
| 59 | (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. | ||
| 60 | <LI>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor | ||
| 61 | (freedom 2). | ||
| 62 | <LI>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements | ||
| 63 | to the public, so that the whole community benefits. | ||
| 64 | (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. | ||
| 65 | </UL> | ||
| 66 | |||
| 67 | <P> | ||
| 68 | A program is free software if users have all of these freedoms. | ||
| 69 | Thus, you should be free to redistribute copies, either with or | ||
| 70 | without modifications, either gratis or charging a fee for | ||
| 71 | distribution, to <A HREF="#exportcontrol">anyone anywhere</A>. Being | ||
| 72 | free to do these things means (among other things) that you do not | ||
| 73 | have to ask or pay for permission. | ||
| 74 | |||
| 75 | <P> | ||
| 76 | You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them | ||
| 77 | privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they | ||
| 78 | exist. If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to | ||
| 79 | notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way. | ||
| 80 | |||
| 81 | <P> | ||
| 82 | The freedom to use a program means the freedom for any kind of person | ||
| 83 | or organization to use it on any kind of computer system, for any kind | ||
| 84 | of overall job, and without being required to communicate subsequently | ||
| 85 | with the developer or any other specific entity. | ||
| 86 | |||
| 87 | <P> | ||
| 88 | The freedom to redistribute copies must include binary or executable | ||
| 89 | rms | 1.5 | forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and |
| 90 | rms | 1.16 | unmodified versions. (Distributing programs in runnable form is |
| 91 | necessary for conveniently installable free operating systems.) It is | ||
| 92 | ok if there is no way to produce a binary or executable form for a | ||
| 93 | certain program (since some languages don't support that feature), but | ||
| 94 | you must have the freedom to redistribute such forms should you find | ||
| 95 | or develop a way to make them. | ||
| 96 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 97 | <P> | ||
| 98 | In order for the freedoms to make changes, and to publish improved | ||
| 99 | versions, to be meaningful, you must have access to the source code of | ||
| 100 | the program. Therefore, accessibility of source code is a necessary | ||
| 101 | condition for free software. | ||
| 102 | |||
| 103 | <P> | ||
| 104 | In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as | ||
| 105 | long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the | ||
| 106 | power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give | ||
| 107 | cause, the software is not free. | ||
| 108 | |||
| 109 | <P> | ||
| 110 | However, certain kinds of rules about the manner of distributing free | ||
| 111 | software are acceptable, when they don't conflict with the central | ||
| 112 | freedoms. For example, copyleft (very simply stated) is the rule that | ||
| 113 | when redistributing the program, you cannot add restrictions to deny | ||
| 114 | other people the central freedoms. This rule does not conflict with | ||
| 115 | the central freedoms; rather it protects them. | ||
| 116 | |||
| 117 | <P> | ||
| 118 | Thus, you may have paid money to get copies of GNU software, or you | ||
| 119 | may have obtained copies at no charge. But regardless of how you got | ||
| 120 | your copies, you always have the freedom to copy and change the | ||
| 121 | software, even to <A HREF="/philosophy/selling.html">sell copies</A>. | ||
| 122 | rms | 1.11 | <P> |
| 123 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 124 | ``Free software'' does not mean ``non-commercial''. A free program | ||
| 125 | rms | 1.11 | must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and |
| 126 | commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software is | ||
| 127 | no longer unusual; such free commercial software is very important. | ||
| 128 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 129 | <P> | ||
| 130 | Rules about how to package a modified version are acceptable, if they | ||
| 131 | don't effectively block your freedom to release modified versions. | ||
| 132 | Rules that ``if you make the program available in this way, you must | ||
| 133 | make it available in that way also'' can be acceptable too, on the | ||
| 134 | same condition. (Note that such a rule still leaves you the choice of | ||
| 135 | rms | 1.11 | whether to publish the program or not.) It is also acceptable for the |
| 136 | license to require that, if you have distributed a modified version | ||
| 137 | and a previous developer asks for a copy of it, you must send one. | ||
| 138 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 139 | <P> | ||
| 140 | In the GNU project, we use <A HREF="/copyleft/copyleft.html"> | ||
| 141 | ``copyleft''</A> to protect these freedoms legally for everyone. But | ||
| 142 | <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html#Non-CopyleftedFreeSoftware"> | ||
| 143 | non-copylefted free software</A> also exists. We believe there are | ||
| 144 | important reasons why <A HREF="/philosophy/pragmatic.html"> it is | ||
| 145 | better to use copyleft</A>, but if your program is non-copylefted free | ||
| 146 | software, we can still use it. | ||
| 147 | |||
| 148 | <P> | ||
| 149 | See <A HREF="/philosophy/categories.html">Categories of Free Software | ||
| 150 | (18k characters)</A> | ||
| 151 | for a description of how ``free software,'' ``copylefted software'' and | ||
| 152 | other categories of software relate to each other. | ||
| 153 | |||
| 154 | <P> | ||
| 155 | Sometimes government <A NAME="exportcontrol">export control | ||
| 156 | regulations</A> and trade sanctions can constrain your freedom to | ||
| 157 | distribute copies of programs internationally. Software developers do | ||
| 158 | not have the power to eliminate or override these restrictions, but | ||
| 159 | what they can and must do is refuse to impose them as conditions of | ||
| 160 | use of the program. In this way, the restrictions will not affect | ||
| 161 | activities and people outside the jurisdictions of these governments. | ||
| 162 | |||
| 163 | <P> | ||
| 164 | When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using terms like | ||
| 165 | ``give away'' or ``for free'', because those terms imply that the | ||
| 166 | issue is about price, not freedom. Some common terms such as | ||
| 167 | ``piracy'' embody opinions we hope you won't endorse. See <A | ||
| 168 | HREF="/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html">Confusing Words and Phrases | ||
| 169 | that are Worth Avoiding</A> for a discussion of these terms. | ||
| 170 | We also have a list of <A HREF="/philosophy/fs-translations.html">translations | ||
| 171 | of "free software"</A> into various languages. | ||
| 172 | webcvs | 1.2 | |
| 173 | <P> | ||
| 174 | |||
| 175 | Finally, note that criteria such as those stated in this free software | ||
| 176 | definition require careful thought for their interpretation. To | ||
| 177 | decide whether a specific software license qualifies as a free | ||
| 178 | software license, we judge it based on these criteria to determine | ||
| 179 | whether it fits their spirit as well as the precise words. If a | ||
| 180 | license includes unconscionable restrictions, we reject it, even if we | ||
| 181 | did not anticipate the issue in these criteria. Sometimes a license | ||
| 182 | rms | 1.11 | requirement raises an issue that calls for extensive thought, |
| 183 | including discussions with a lawyer, before we can decide if the | ||
| 184 | requirement is acceptable. When we reach a conclusion about a new | ||
| 185 | issue, we often update these criteria to make it easier to see why | ||
| 186 | certain licenses do or don't qualify. | ||
| 187 | webcvs | 1.2 | |
| 188 | <P> | ||
| 189 | |||
| 190 | If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a | ||
| 191 | free software license, see our <A | ||
| 192 | rms46 | 1.10 | HREF="/licenses/license-list.html">list of licenses</A>. If the |
| 193 | webcvs | 1.2 | license you are concerned with is not listed there, you can ask us |
| 194 | about it by sending us email at <A | ||
| 195 | HREF="mailto:licensing@gnu.org"><licensing@gnu.org></A>. | ||
| 196 | |||
| 197 | webcvs | 1.1 | <HR> |
| 198 | |||
| 199 | <H4><A HREF="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</A></H4> | ||
| 200 | |||
| 201 | <P> | ||
| 202 | rms | 1.11 | Another group has started using the term "open source" to mean |
| 203 | something close (but not identical) to "free software". We prefer the | ||
| 204 | term "free software" because, once you have heard it refers to freedom | ||
| 205 | rather than price, <A HREF="free-software-for-freedom.html">it calls | ||
| 206 | to mind freedom</A>. | ||
| 207 | webcvs | 1.1 | |
| 208 | <HR> | ||
| 209 | rms46 | 1.10 | [ |
| 210 | <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical --> | ||
| 211 | <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! --> | ||
| 212 | Sisao | 1.15 | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hr.html">Croatian</A> |
| 213 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.cs.html">Czech</A> | ||
| 214 | rms46 | 1.10 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.nl.html">Dutch</A> |
| 215 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.html">English</A> | ||
| 216 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html">French</A> | ||
| 217 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.gl.html">Galician</A> | ||
| 218 | guido_arnold | 1.14 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.de.html">German</A> |
| 219 | rms46 | 1.10 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.hu.html">Hungarian</A> |
| 220 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.id.html">Indonesian</A> | ||
| 221 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.it.html">Italian</A> | ||
| 222 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ja.html">Japanese</A> | ||
| 223 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ko.html">Korean</A> | ||
| 224 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.no.html">Norwegian</A> | ||
| 225 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pl.html">Polish</A> | ||
| 226 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.pt.html">Portuguese</A> | ||
| 227 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.ru.html">Russian</A> | ||
| 228 | wkotwica | 1.13 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.sl.html">Slovenian</A> |
| 229 | rms46 | 1.10 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.es.html">Spanish</A> |
| 230 | | <A HREF="/philosophy/free-sw.tr.html">Turkish</A> | ||
| 231 | <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical --> | ||
| 232 | <!-- PLEASE UPDATE THE LIST AT THE BOTTOM (OR TOP) OF THE PAGE TOO! --> | ||
| 233 | ] | ||
| 234 | <P> | ||
| 235 | webcvs | 1.1 | Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>. |
| 236 | <P> | ||
| 237 | rms46 | 1.10 | |
| 238 | Please send FSF & GNU inquiries & questions to | ||
| 239 | |||
| 240 | webcvs | 1.1 | <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>. |
| 241 | rms46 | 1.10 | There are also <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to |
| 242 | contact</A> the FSF. | ||
| 243 | webcvs | 1.1 | <P> |
| 244 | rms46 | 1.10 | |
| 245 | Please send comments on these web pages to | ||
| 246 | |||
| 247 | <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@gnu.org</EM></A>, | ||
| 248 | webcvs | 1.1 | send other questions to |
| 249 | <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>. | ||
| 250 | <P> | ||
| 251 | webcvs | 1.2 | Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc., |
| 252 | webcvs | 1.1 | 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111, USA |
| 253 | <P> | ||
| 254 | Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is | ||
| 255 | rms46 | 1.10 | permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved. |
| 256 | <P> | ||
| 257 | webcvs | 1.1 | Updated: |
| 258 | paulv | 1.3 | <!-- timestamp start --> |
| 259 | rms | 1.16 | $Date: 2002/03/09 15:39:38 $ $Author: Sisao $ |
| 260 | paulv | 1.3 | <!-- timestamp end --> |
| 261 | webcvs | 1.1 | <HR> |
| 262 | </BODY> | ||
| 263 | </HTML> | ||
| 264 | rms46 | 1.10 |
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