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revision 1.73 by brett, Tue Dec 9 14:59:28 2008 UTC revision 1.74 by rms, Tue Dec 9 18:16:53 2008 UTC
# Line 41  four kinds of freedom, for the users of Line 41  four kinds of freedom, for the users of
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>
# Line 92  condition for free software. Line 93  condition for free software.
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>
# Line 123  you always have the freedom to copy and Line 126  you always have the freedom to copy and
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
# Line 167  programs internationally.  Software deve Line 176  programs internationally.  Software deve
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>
# Line 278  them if they like.</p> Line 289  them if they like.</p>
289    
290  <ul>  <ul>
291    
292  <li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&amp;r1=1.71&amp;r2=1.72">Version  <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
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&amp;r1=1.56&amp;r2=1.57">Version  <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
306  1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>  1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
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