We maintain this article to show the definition of free software, indicating what software is appropriately referred to as "free software". "Free Software" about "freedom" rather than price, "Free) This concept does not refer to" Free Beer ", but refers to" freedom of speech "[because of English freedom and free view: free] . Software referred to in free software, its users have the freedom of use, copy, spread, research, rewrite, and then use the software. More precisely, free software gives users four freedom: * Whether the purpose is, there is freedom of using the software (free zero). * There is a freedom to study how the software operates, and can be rewritten to meet the needs of users (one of freedom). The source code for this software is achieved as before this purpose. * With the freedom of renewing the software, everyone can Dun neighborly neighbors by scattered free software. * There is an improvement to use the freedom of this software, and you can post a rewrite version for public use, so that the entire community can benefit. As before, the source of the software acquisition is to mention this purpose (three). If a software user has the above four rights, the software is called "free software". That is, the user must be freely, in a manner that does not charge or collect rationally distributed costs, rewrite the original or rewrite version of anyone to use anyone anyone. If the user does not have to ask anyone or pay any license fee, he means she / he has the freedom right given by free software. Users should also have the right to freely rewrite software, and they can use these software to be used in work or entertainment. This free power using software is suitable for anyone, any organization, any computer system, any working nature, no special and software author or other special person or units. The freedom of reproduction software must be applied to the binary code and source code of the original and rewrite software. If the version of the binary code cannot be created, this action can be skipped, but if later users find other ways to make binary code. They must have the freedom to spread the binary code. In order to achieve the free version of the free version, the user must have the source of the software source code, so the source code is the foundation of the free software. In order to make these freedom come true, these freedoms cannot be changed as long as the user has not committed great crime. If the user does not do something wrong, the author has the power to cancel or withdraw its licensing method, then the software is not free software. However, if additional regulations do not tweak with the above four main free rights, the additional provisions of the disconnected free software can be accepted. For example, the alternative copyright Copyleft specified that when the software is renewed, the author cannot add restrictions to reject the main freedom of freedom of others. This regulation does not have the main freedom of the above, but further protects the user's free software rights. . Users can pay the GNU software, or, users can also get these software for free, but she / they must have the right to copy or write these software regardless of how users get these software. software. Free software is not "non-commercial software". Free software must be available for commercial purposes. Free software's commercial development model is very common; such free business software is quite important. If it does not affect the right to rewrite the rewritten by the later user, the additional specification is also possible to discover a rewritten free software production as a kit. Similarly, like this "If you use this way to issue software, you must make this software can also be available in this case (this type of provision also makes the user do not The selection of this software is issued).
If the license requires "When you issue a revision, if the previous developer requires a copy, you must provide the condition, which is also in line with free. In the GNU project, we use Copyleft to protect each user's free software, but non-copyleft free software also exists. We believe that some important reasons make Copyleft's licensing method is better than other free software licensing methods, but if your software is not under CopyleFT, we also use it. For free software, please see "The Type of Free Software" on the software of the software, and other kinds of software. Sometimes, the government's export control and transaction licenses will limit the rights and freedom of users global distribution software. Although software developers do not have power to exclude or eliminate these restrictions, she / they can, must also refuse In this case, these conditions will not affect the user's free software freedom, and those related to free software, things, and things are not within the jurisdiction of these government departments. . Most of the free software licenses are based on Copyleft, and the required types of requirements can be added. If a copyright-based license complies with the freedom as described above, it is unlikely to meet other types of problems we have never expected (although occasionally there will be). However, there are some free software licenses based on the terms of the contract, while the contract can be added to a large extent possible limit. This means that there is a license, there will be many possible ways to become limited to unacceptable, thus become "non-free". We cannot list all possible contract restrictions that cannot be accepted. If a contract-based license is unusual way, it is unusual way to copyright-based license, and we will not be able to take the qualified [free terms] as described herein. Under the trial, and it is very likely to determine that it is non-free. When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using the wording of "give" or "free", because these wesis will give people "free" means "free" misleading, and ignore the use Software freedom of freedom. Some words like "piracy" have similar meanings, we hope that the user of free software will not be alleged. For discussion of these wording, see "Easy confusing words, please try to avoid", we also have a variety of language versions of "translation of free software". Finally, please note that these standards related to free software definitions require a prudent interpretation. We agree whether the software is in line with the standard of free software based on the spirit and key text of the above four-point software free software. If a software contains unfair, violates the restrictions of the above four free software spirit, even if the software is released, we refuse to use it. Sometimes, a license will trigger some discussion. Before receiving it a free software license, we need to judge and think together with some lawyers legal experts. When we reach a consensus, we will update free software Standards make users easier to understand what licensing methods are eligible or do not conform to free software definitions. If you are interested in a certain licensing method that is in line with the free software, please see our article "Licensing Method", if you are interested in the licensing method is not in our list, please ask us directly through email . Trust
. Maybe, if you really need a new license, then you can determine if the license is really free software license, so that many actual problems are avoided. Other groups have begun to use the word "Open Source" to refer to things that are quite significant with "free software", but still do not have the same thing. We tend to use "Free Software" because you have heard it means freedom, not free, then you can know it from its name, it is free. Advanced Read this page Remove to the GNU Project Home. Please send a query about the "Free Software Foundation" and "GNU Engineering" to GNU@gnu.org. There are also other ways to contact the Free Software Foundation. Send the failure link and the correction (or suggestions) of other pages to WebMasterS@gnu.org. Please refer to the translation read me to obtain information about "coordination" and "authoring" translation. Please send questions about the translation to the GNU / CTT translator. Translation: Lin Weiwei | Yuwei Lin | Yuwei {at} Ylin {Dot} ORG. Verification: Liu Zhaohong. Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111, USA Verbatim Copying and Distribution of this entire article is Permitted in Any Medium WITHOUT ROYALTY Provided this Notice IS Preserved. This article allows you to publish in any form of media without changing the content of the document, but you need to retain this statement. Updated: $ date: 2004/11/18 00:44:00 $ $ Author: chstoneliu $
