| 41 |
(freedom 2). |
(freedom 2). |
| 42 |
</li> |
</li> |
| 43 |
<li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements |
<li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements |
| 44 |
|
(and modified versions in general) |
| 45 |
to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). |
to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). |
| 46 |
Access to the source code is a precondition for this. |
Access to the source code is a precondition for this. |
| 47 |
</li> |
</li> |
| 93 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 94 |
|
|
| 95 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 96 |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available |
One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free |
| 97 |
free subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you |
| 98 |
cannot merge in an existing module, such as if it requires you to be the |
cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it |
| 99 |
copyright holder of any code you add, then the license is too restrictive |
requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add, then the |
| 100 |
to qualify as free. |
license is too restrictive to qualify as free. |
| 101 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 102 |
|
|
| 103 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 104 |
In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as |
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 |
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 cause, |
power to revoke the license, or replace it with a different license |
| 107 |
the software is not free. |
(since this implies revoking the old license), |
| 108 |
|
without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the software is not |
| 109 |
|
free. |
| 110 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 111 |
|
|
| 112 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 126 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 127 |
|
|
| 128 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 129 |
|
Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter. |
| 130 |
|
If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that |
| 131 |
|
someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom. |
| 132 |
|
</p> |
| 133 |
|
|
| 134 |
|
<p> |
| 135 |
<q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q> A free |
<q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q> A free |
| 136 |
program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, |
program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, |
| 137 |
and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software |
and commercial distribution. Commercial development of free software |
| 176 |
eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do |
eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do |
| 177 |
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 |
| 178 |
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the |
| 179 |
jurisdictions of these governments. |
jurisdictions of these governments. Thus, free software licenses |
| 180 |
|
must not require obedience to any export regulations a condition of |
| 181 |
|
any of the essential freedoms. |
| 182 |
</p> |
</p> |
| 183 |
|
|
| 184 |
<p> |
<p> |
| 289 |
|
|
| 290 |
<ul> |
<ul> |
| 291 |
|
|
| 292 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.71&r2=1.72">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.73&r2=1.74">Version |
| 293 |
1.72</a>: Add this History section.</li> |
1.74</a>: Three clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated |
| 294 |
|
in some places but not reflected everywhere: |
| 295 |
|
<ul> |
| 296 |
|
<li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can |
| 297 |
|
substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release. |
| 298 |
|
Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li> |
| 299 |
|
<li>The right to merge in existing modules |
| 300 |
|
refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li> |
| 301 |
|
<li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li> |
| 302 |
|
</ul> |
| 303 |
|
</li> |
| 304 |
|
|
| 305 |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.56&r2=1.57">Version |
| 306 |
1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |
1.57</a>: Add "Beyond Software" section.</li> |