www/philosophy free-sw.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       08/12/09 18:18:27

Modified files:
        philosophy     : free-sw.html 

Log message:
        Make it explicit that "improvements" is not meant to limit what kinds
        of modified versions you can release.  State in the table that you
        must be able to release modified versions, not just the changes.
        
        The right to merge in existing modules refers to those
        that are suitably licensed.
        
        Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.73&r2=1.74

Patches:
Index: free-sw.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/philosophy/free-sw.html,v
retrieving revision 1.73
retrieving revision 1.74
diff -u -b -r1.73 -r1.74
--- free-sw.html        9 Dec 2008 14:59:28 -0000       1.73
+++ free-sw.html        9 Dec 2008 18:16:53 -0000       1.74
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
       (freedom 2).
   </li>
   <li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
+      (and modified versions in general)
       to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). 
       Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
   </li>
@@ -92,18 +93,20 @@
 </p>
 
 <p>
-One important way to modify a program is by merging in available
-free subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
-cannot merge in an existing module, such as if it requires you to be the
-copyright holder of any code you add, then the license is too restrictive
-to qualify as free.
+One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free
+subroutines and modules.  If the program's license says that you
+cannot merge in a suitably-licensed existing module, such as if it
+requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add, then the
+license is too restrictive to qualify as free.
 </p>
 
 <p>
 In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as
 long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the
-power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give cause,
-the software is not free.
+power to revoke the license, or replace it with a different license
+(since this implies revoking the old license),
+without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the software is not
+free.
 </p>
 
 <p>
@@ -123,6 +126,12 @@
 </p>
 
 <p>
+Whether a change constitutes an improvement is a subjective matter.
+If your modifications are limited, in substance, to changes that
+someone else considers an improvement, that is not freedom.
+</p>
+
+<p>
 <q>Free software</q> does not mean <q>non-commercial.</q>  A free
 program must be available for commercial use, commercial development,
 and commercial distribution.  Commercial development of free software
@@ -167,7 +176,9 @@
 eliminate or override these restrictions, but what they can and must do
 is refuse to impose them as conditions of use of the program.  In this
 way, the restrictions will not affect activities and people outside the
-jurisdictions of these governments.
+jurisdictions of these governments.  Thus, free software licenses
+must not require obedience to any export regulations a condition of
+any of the essential freedoms.
 </p>
 
 <p>
@@ -278,8 +289,18 @@
 
 <ul>
 
-<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
-1.72</a>: Add this History section.</li>
+<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
+1.74</a>: Three clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
+in some places but not reflected everywhere:
+<ul>
+<li>"Improvements" does not mean the license can
+substantively limit what kinds of modified versions you can release.
+Freedom 3 includes distributing modified versions, not just changes.</li>
+<li>The right to merge in existing modules
+refers to those that are suitably licensed.</li>
+<li>Explicitly state the conclusion of the point about export controls.</li>
+</ul>
+</li>
 
 <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
 1.57</a>: Add &quot;Beyond Software&quot; section.</li>
@@ -361,7 +382,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2008/12/09 14:59:28 $
+$Date: 2008/12/09 18:16:53 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>