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Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations -of this book from the original English into another language provided -the translation has been approved by the Free Software Foundation and -the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all -copies. - -ISBN 978-0-9831592-0-9 -Cover design by Rob Myers. - -Cover photograph by Peter Hinely. - --><!-- Created on February 18, 2016 by texi2html 1.82 -texi2html was written by: - Lionel Cons <Lionel.Cons@cern.ch> (original author) - Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> - Olaf Bachmann <obachman@mathematik.uni-kl.de> - and many others. -Maintained by: Many creative people. -Send bugs and suggestions to <texi2html-bug@nongnu.org> ---><head><title>Free Software, Free Society, 2nd ed.: 13. Categories of Free and Nonfree Software</title><meta name="description" content="This is the second edition of Richard Stallman's collection of essays."><meta name="keywords" content="Free Software, Free Society, 2nd ed.: 13. Categories of Free and Nonfree Software"><meta name="resource-type" content="document"><meta name="distribution" content="global"><meta name="Generator" content="texi2html 1.82"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><style type="text/css"> -<!-- -a.summary-letter {text-decoration: none} -blockquote.smallquotation {font-size: smaller} -pre.display {font-family: serif} -pre.format {font-family: serif} -pre.menu-comment {font-family: serif} -pre.menu-preformatted {font-family: serif} -pre.smalldisplay {font-family: serif; font-size: smaller} -pre.smallexample {font-size: smaller} -pre.smallformat {font-family: serif; font-size: smaller} -pre.smalllisp {font-size: smaller} -span.roman {font-family:serif; font-weight:normal;} -span.sansserif {font-family:sans-serif; font-weight:normal;} -ul.toc {list-style: none} ---> -</style><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../web-common/style.css"></head><body lang="en" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#800080" alink="#FF0000" class="article"> - -<a name="Categories"></a> -<header><div id="logo"><a href="/"><img src="../gnu.svg" height="100" width="100"></a></div><h1 class="book-title">Free Software, Free Society, 2nd ed.</h1></header><section id="main"><a name="Categories-of-Free-and-Nonfree-Software"></a> -<h1 class="chapter"> 13. Categories of Free and Nonfree Software </h1> - -<a name="index-call-to-action_002c-use-correct-terminology-_0028see-also-terminology_0029-3"></a> - <img src="category.jpg" alt="category"><blockquote class="smallquotation"><p><em>This diagram, originally by Chao-Kuei and updated by several -others since, explains the different categories of software. It’s -available at <a href="http://gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html">http://gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html</a> as -a Scalable Vector Graphic and as an XFig document, under the terms of -any of the GNU GPL v2 or later, the GNU FDL v1.2 or later, or the -Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike v2.0 or later. To view a copy -of the Creative Commons license, visit -<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0</a>, or -send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, -Suite 300, San Francisco, California 94105, USA.</em> -</p></blockquote> -<br><a name="Free-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Free Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-free-_0028see-also-free-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-free-software-_0028see-also-free-software_002c-four-freedoms_002c-citizen-values_002c-selling_002c-and-software_0029-2"></a> - -<p> Free software is software that comes with permission for - anyone to use, copy, and/or distribute, either verbatim or with - modifications, either gratis or for a fee. In particular, this - means that source code must be available. “If it’s not - source, it’s not software.” This is a simplified - description; see also the full definition (p. @refx{Definition-pg}{). -</p> -<p> If a program is free, then it can potentially be included - in a free operating system such as GNU, or free versions of - the GNU/Linux - system. -</p> -<p> There are many different ways to make a program free—many - questions of detail, which could be decided in more than one way - and still make the program free. Some of the possible variations - are described below. For information on specific free software - licenses, see the license list page, at <a href="http://gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html">http://gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html</a>. -</p> -<p> Free software is a matter of freedom, not price. But - proprietary software companies typically use the term - “free software” to refer to price. Sometimes they - mean that you can obtain a binary copy at no charge; sometimes - they mean that a copy is bundled with a computer that you are - buying, and the price includes both. Either way, it has - nothing to do with what we mean by free software in the GNU - Project. -</p> -<p> Because of this potential confusion, when a software company - says its product is free software, always check the actual - distribution terms to see whether users really have all the - freedoms that free software implies. Sometimes it really is free - software; sometimes it isn’t. -</p> -<p> Many languages have two separate words for - “free” as in freedom and “free” as in - zero price. For example, French has “libre” and - “gratuit.” Not so English; there is a word - “gratis” that refers unambiguously to price, but - no common adjective that refers unambiguously to freedom. So - if you are speaking another language, we suggest you translate - “free” into your language to make it clearer. See - our list of - translations of the term “free software” into - various other languages (p. @refx{FS Translations-pg}{). -</p> -<p> Free software is often more reliable than nonfree software. -<a name="index-software_002c-free-_0028see-also-free-software_0029-1"></a> -<a name="index-free-software-_0028see-also-free-software_002c-four-freedoms_002c-citizen-values_002c-selling_002c-and-software_0029-3"></a> -</p> -<a name="Open-Source-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Open Source Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-open-source-_0028see-also-open-source-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-open-source-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> - -<p> The term “open source” software is used by some - people to mean more or less the same category as free - software. It is not exactly the same class of software: they - accept some licenses that we consider too restrictive, and - there are free software licenses they have not - accepted. However, the differences in extension of the - category are small: nearly all free software is open source, - and nearly all open source software is free. -<a name="index-free-software_002c-essential-difference-between-open-source-and-1"></a> -<a name="index-open-source_002c-essential-difference-between-free-software-and-1"></a> -</p> -<p> We prefer the term “free - software” because it refers to - freedom—something that the term “open - source” does not do. -</p> -<a name="Public-Domain-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Public Domain Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-public-domain-_0028see-also-public-domain-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-public-domain-software-_0028see-also-software_0029-2"></a> -<a name="index-copyright_002c-public-domain-software-and-_0028see-also-public-domain-software_0029"></a> - -<p> Public domain software is software that is not copyrighted. If - the source code is in the public domain, that is a special case of - noncopylefted free - software, which means that some copies or modified versions - may not be free at all. -</p> -<p> In some cases, an executable program can be in the public -domain but the source code is not available. This is not free -software, because free software requires accessibility of source code. -Meanwhile, most free software is not in the - -public domain; it is -copyrighted, and the copyright holders have legally given permission -for everyone to use it in freedom, using a free software license. -</p> -<p> Sometimes people use the term “public domain” - in a loose fashion to - mean “free” or - “available gratis.” However, “public - domain” is a legal term and means, precisely, “not - copyrighted.” For clarity, we recommend using - “public domain” for that meaning only, and using - other terms to convey the other meanings. -</p> -<p> Under the -<a name="index-copyright_002c-Berne-Convention"></a> -<a name="index-Berne-Convention-_0028see-also-copyright_0029"></a> -Berne Convention, which most countries have - signed, anything written down is automatically - copyrighted. This includes programs. Therefore, if you want a - program you have written to be in the public domain, you must - take some legal steps to disclaim the copyright on it; - otherwise, the program is copyrighted. -<a name="index-software_002c-public-domain-_0028see-also-public-domain-software_0029-1"></a> -<a name="index-public-domain-software-_0028see-also-software_0029-3"></a> -<a name="index-copyright_002c-public-domain-software-and-_0028see-also-public-domain-software_0029-1"></a> -</p> -<a name="Copylefted-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Copylefted Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-copylefted-_0028see-also-copylefted-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-copylefted-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> - -<p>Copylefted software is free software whose distribution terms ensure -that all copies of all versions carry more or less the same -distribution terms. This means, for instance, that copyleft licenses -generally disallow others to add additional requirements to the -software (though a limited set of safe added requirements can be -allowed) and require making source code available. This shields the -program, and its modified versions, from some of the common ways of -making a program proprietary. -</p> -<p>Some copyleft licenses, such as GPL version 3, block other -means of turning software proprietary, such as tivoization. -</p> -<p>In the GNU Project, we copyleft almost all the software we -write, because our goal is to give <em>every</em> user the freedoms -implied by the term “free software.” See the essay “Copyleft” -(p. @refx{Copyleft-pg}{) for more explanation of how copyleft works and -why we use it. -</p> -<a name="index-copyleft_002c-and-GPL"></a> - -<p>Copyleft is a general concept; to copyleft an actual program, -you need to use a specific set of distribution terms. There are many -possible ways to write copyleft distribution terms, so in principle -there can be many copyleft free software licenses. However, in actual -practice nearly all copylefted software uses the GNU General Public -License. Two different copyleft licenses are usually “incompatible,” -which means it is illegal to merge the code using one license with the -code using the other license; therefore, it is good for the community -if people use a single copyleft license. -</p> -<a name="Noncopylefted-Free-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Noncopylefted Free Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-noncopylefted-free-_0028see-also-noncopylefted-free-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-noncopylefted-free-software-_0028see-also-software_0029-1"></a> -<p> Noncopylefted free software comes from the author with - permission to redistribute and modify, and also to add additional - restrictions to it. -</p> -<p> If a program is free but not copylefted, then some copies - or modified versions may not be free at all. A software - company can compile the program, with or without - modifications, and distribute the executable file as - a proprietary software product. -</p> -<a name="index-X-Window-System-3"></a> -<a name="index-X-Consortium-_0028see-also-Open-Group_002c-its-successor_0029"></a> -<a name="index-X11-licenses"></a> -<p> The X Window System illustrates this. The X Consortium -releases X11 with distribution terms that make it noncopylefted free -software. If you wish, you can get a copy which has those distribution -terms and is free. However, there are nonfree versions as well, and -there are (or at least were) popular workstations and PC graphics -boards for which nonfree versions are the only ones that work. If you -are using this hardware, X11 is not free software for you. The -developers of X11 even made X11 nonfree for a while; they were able to -do this because others had contributed their code under the same -noncopyleft license. -</p> -<a name="index-X-Window-System-4"></a> -<a name="index-X-Consortium-_0028see-also-Open-Group_002c-its-successor_0029-1"></a> -<a name="index-X11-licenses-1"></a> -<a name="index-software_002c-noncopylefted-free-_0028see-also-noncopylefted-free-software_0029-1"></a> -<a name="index-noncopylefted-free-software-_0028see-also-software_0029-2"></a> - -<a name="Lax-Permissive-Licensed-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Lax Permissive Licensed Software </h3> - -<a name="index-lax-permissive-licensed-software"></a> -<a name="index-software_002c-lax-permissive-licensed"></a> -<p>Lax permissive licenses include the -<a name="index-X11-licenses-2"></a> -X11 license and the two -<a name="index-BSD-licenses-_0028see-also-both-_0060_0060BSD_002dstyle_0027_0027-and-GPL_0029"></a> -BSD -licenses. These licenses permit almost any use of the code, including -distributing proprietary binaries with or without changing the source -code. -</p> -<a name="GPL_002dCovered-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> GPL-Covered Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-GPL_002dcovered-_0028see-also-GPL_002dcovered-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-GPL_002c-GPL_002dcovered-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-GPL_002dcovered-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<p> The GNU GPL (General Public - License) is one specific set of distribution terms for - copylefting a program. The GNU Project uses it as the distribution - terms for most GNU software. -</p> -<p> To equate free software with GPL-covered software is therefore - an error. -</p> -<a name="The-GNU-Operating-System"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> The GNU Operating System </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-GNU-operating-system-_0028see-also-GNU_0029"></a> -<a name="index-GNU_002c-GNU-operating-system-_0028see-also-both-software-and-GNU_0029"></a> - -<p> The GNU operating system is the - Unix-like operating system, which is entirely free software, that - we in the GNU Project have developed since 1984. -</p> -<a name="index-TeX-2"></a> -<p> A Unix-like operating system consists of many programs. The GNU - system includes all the GNU software, as well as many other - packages, such as the X Window System and TeX, which are not GNU - software. -</p> -<a name="index-Hurd_002c-GNU-1"></a> -<a name="index-GNU_002c-GNU-Hurd-2"></a> -<a name="index-kernel_002c-GNU-Hurd-1"></a> -<p> The first test release of the complete GNU system was in - 1996. This includes the GNU Hurd, our kernel, developed since - 1990. In 2001 the GNU system (including the GNU Hurd) began - working fairly reliably, but the Hurd still lacks some - important features, so it is not widely used. Meanwhile, - the GNU/Linux system, - an offshoot of the GNU operating system which uses Linux as - the kernel instead of the GNU Hurd, has been a great success - since the 90s. -</p> -<p> Since the purpose of GNU is to be free, every single - component in the GNU operating system has to be free - software. They don’t all have to be copylefted, however; any - kind of free software is legally suitable to include if it - helps meet technical goals. And it isn’t necessary for all the - components to be GNU software, individually. GNU can and does - include noncopylefted free software such as the X Window - System that were developed by other projects. -</p> -<a name="GNU-Programs"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> GNU Programs </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-GNU-programs-_0028see-also-GNU-programs_0029"></a> -<a name="index-GNU_002c-GNU-programs-_0028see-also-software_0029-1"></a> - -<p> “GNU programs” is equivalent - to GNU software. A program Foo is a - GNU program if it is GNU software. We also sometimes say it - is a “GNU package.” -</p> -<a name="GNU-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> GNU Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-GNU_0028see-also-GNU-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-GNU-_0028see-also-both-software-and-GNU_0029-3"></a> -<p> GNU software is - software that is released under the auspices of the GNU Project. If a program is GNU - software, we also say that it is a GNU program or a GNU - package. The README or manual of a GNU package should say it - is one; also, - - the Free Software Directory identifies all GNU packages. -</p> - -<p> Most GNU software is copylefted, but not all; however, - all GNU software must be free software. -</p> -<a name="index-FSF_002c-software-development"></a> -<a name="index-FSF_002c-copyright-on-software"></a> -<p> Some GNU software was written by staff of the Free Software -Foundation, but most GNU software comes from many volunteers. (Some of -these volunteers are paid by companies or universities, but they are -volunteers for us.) Some contributed software is copyrighted by the -Free Software Foundation; some is copyrighted by the contributors who -wrote it. -<a name="index-software_002c-GNU_0028see-also-GNU-software_0029-1"></a> -<a name="index-GNU-_0028see-also-both-software-and-GNU_0029-4"></a> -</p> -<a name="Nonfree-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Nonfree Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-nonfree-_0028see-also-nonfree-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-nonfree-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<p> Nonfree software is any software that is not free. - Its use, redistribution or modification is prohibited, or - requires you to ask for permission, or is restricted so much - that you effectively can’t do it freely. -</p> -<a name="Proprietary-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Proprietary Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-proprietary-_0028see-also-proprietary-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-proprietary-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<p> Proprietary software is another name for nonfree software. - In the past we subdivided nonfree software into - “semifree software,” which could be modified and - redistributed noncommercially, and “proprietary - software,” which could not be. But we have dropped that - distinction and now use “proprietary software” as - synonymous with nonfree software. -</p> -<a name="index-FSF_002c-on-installing-proprietary-software"></a> -<p> The Free Software Foundation follows the rule that we cannot - install any proprietary program on our computers except temporarily - for the specific purpose of writing a free replacement for that - very program. Aside from that, we feel there is no possible excuse - for installing a proprietary program. -</p> -<p> For example, we felt justified in installing Unix on our - computer in the 1980s, because we were using it to write a free - replacement for Unix. Nowadays, since free operating systems are - available, the excuse is no longer applicable; we do not use any - nonfree operating systems, and any new computer we install - must run a completely free operating system. -</p> -<p> We don’t insist that users of GNU, or contributors to GNU, have - to live by this rule. It is a rule we made for ourselves. But we - hope you will follow it too, for your freedom’s sake. -</p> -<a name="Freeware"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Freeware </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-freeware-_0028see-also-freeware_0029"></a> -<a name="index-_0060_0060freeware_002c_0027_0027-erroneous-use-of-term"></a> -<p> The term “freeware” has no clear accepted - definition, but it is commonly used for packages which permit - redistribution but not modification (and their source code is - not available). These packages are <em>not</em> free software, - so please don’t use “freeware” to refer to free - software. -</p> -<a name="Shareware"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Shareware </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-shareware"></a> -<a name="index-shareware-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<p> Shareware is software which comes with permission for people to - redistribute copies, but says that anyone who continues to use a - copy is <em>required</em> to pay a license fee. -</p> -<p> Shareware is not free software, or even semifree. There are two - reasons it is not: - -</p> -<ul><li> -For most shareware, source code is not available; thus, you cannot modify the program at all. - -</li><li> -Shareware does not come with permission to make a copy and install it without paying a license fee, not even for individuals engaging in nonprofit activity. (In practice, people often disregard the distribution terms and do this anyway, but the terms don’t permit it.) - -</li></ul><a name="index-software_002c-shareware-1"></a> -<a name="index-shareware-_0028see-also-software_0029-1"></a> - -<a name="Private-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Private Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-private"></a> -<a name="index-private-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-development_002c-private-software"></a> -<p> Private or custom software is software developed for one user - (typically an organization or company). That user keeps it and uses - it, and does not release it to the public either as source code or - as binaries. -</p> -<p> A private program is free software in a trivial sense if its - sole user has full rights to it. -</p> -<p> In general we do not believe it is wrong to develop a program - and not release it. There are occasions when a program is so useful - that withholding it from release is treating humanity badly. - However, most programs are not that important, so not releasing them - is not particularly harmful. Thus, there is no conflict between the - development of private or custom software and the principles of the - free software movement. -</p> -<p> Nearly all employment for programmers is in development of - custom software; therefore most programming jobs are, or could be, - done in a way compatible with the free software movement. -</p> -<a name="Commercial-Software"></a> -<h3 class="subheading"> Commercial Software </h3> - -<a name="index-software_002c-commercial-_0028see-also-commercial-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-commercial-software-_0028see-also-software_0029"></a> -<a name="index-commercial-software_002c-to-be-distinguished-from-proprietary-software"></a> -<a name="index-proprietary-software_002c-to-be-distinguished-from-commercial-software"></a> -<a name="index-development_002c-commercial-software"></a> -<p> Commercial software is software being developed by a - business which aims to make money from the use of the - software. “Commercial” and - “proprietary” are not the same thing! Most - commercial software - is proprietary, but there - is commercial free software, and there is noncommercial - nonfree software. -</p> -<a name="index-GNU_002c-GNU-Ada-compiler-1"></a> -<a name="index-Ada-compiler_002c-GNU-1"></a> -<p> For example, GNU Ada is developed by a company. It is always - distributed under the terms of the GNU GPL, and every copy is - free software; but its developers sell support contracts. When - their salesmen speak to prospective customers, sometimes the - customers say, “We would feel safer with a commercial - compiler.” The salesmen reply, “GNU - Ada <em>is</em> a commercial compiler; it happens to be free - software.” -</p> -<p> For the GNU Project, the emphasis is in the other order: - the important thing is that GNU Ada is free software; whether - it is commercial is just a detail. However, the additional - development of GNU Ada that results from its being commercial - is definitely beneficial. -</p> -<p> Please help spread the awareness that free commercial - software is possible. You can do this by making an effort not - to say “commercial” when you mean - “proprietary.” -<a name="index-call-to-action_002c-use-correct-terminology-_0028see-also-terminology_0029-4"></a> -</p><hr size="2"></section></body></html> |