Copyleft/guide Changeset - 1b5161f40204

Changeset - 1b5161f40204

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Bradley Kuhn (bkuhn) - 10 years ago 2014-03-15 16:36:55
bkuhn@ebb.org

Wordsmith on freedom to run and freedom to modify.

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gpl-lgpl.tex

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@@ ... / @@ -194,44 +194,43 @@ freedom in detail. @@
 \subsection{The Freedom to Run}
 For a program to be Free Software, the freedom to run the program must
 be completely unrestricted. This means any use for software the user
 can come up with must be permitted. Perhaps, for example, the user
 has discovered an innovative use for a particular program, one
 that the programmer never could have predicted. Such a use must not
 be restricted.
 The first tenant of software freedom is the user's fully unfettered right to
 run the program.  The software's license must permit any conceivable use of
 the software.  Perhaps, for example, the user has discovered an innovative
 use for a particular program, one that the programmer never could have
 predicted.  Such a use must not be restricted.
 It was once rare that this freedom was restricted by even proprietary
 software; today it is not so rare. Most End User Licensing Agreements
 (EULAs) that cover most proprietary software restrict some types of
 use.  For example, some versions of Microsoft's FrontPage software
 prohibit use of the software to create Web sites that generate
 negative publicity for Microsoft. Free Software has no such
 restrictions; everyone is free to use Free Software for any purpose
 whatsoever.
 software; but such is quite common today. Most End User Licensing Agreements
 (EULAs) that cover most proprietary software typically restrict some types of
 uses.  Such restrictions of any kind are an unacceptable restriction on
 software freedom.
 \subsection{The Freedom to Change and Modify}
 Free Software programs allow users to change, modify and adapt the
 software to suit their needs. Access to the source code and related build
 scripts are an essential part of this freedom. Without the source code
 and the ability to build the binary applications from that source, the
 freedom cannot be properly exercised.
 Programmers can take direct benefit from this freedom, and often do.
 However, this freedom is also important to users who are not programmers.
 Users must have the right to exercise this freedom indirectly in both
 commercial and noncommercial settings. For example, users often seek
 noncommercial help with the software on email lists and in users groups.
 When they find such help, they must have the freedom to recruit
 programmers who might altruistically assist them to modify their software.
 The commercial exercise of this freedom is also essential for users. Each
 user, or group of users, must have the right to hire anyone they wish in a
 competitive free market to modify and change the software. This means
 that companies have a right to hire anyone they wish to modify their Free
 Software. Additionally, such companies may contract with other companies
 to commission software modification.
 Perhaps the most useful right of software freedom is the users' right to
 change, modify and adapt the software to suit their needs.  Access to the
 source code and related build and installation scripts are an essential part
 of this freedom.  Without the source code, and the ability to build and
 install the binary applications from that source, users cannot effectively
 exercise this freedom.
 Programmers take direct benefit from this freedom.  However, this freedom
 remains important to users who are not programmers.  While it may seem
 counterintuitive at first, non-programmer users often exercise this freedom
 indirectly in both commercial and noncommercial settings.  For example, users
 often seek noncommercial help with the software on email lists and in users
 groups.  To make use of such help they must either have the freedom to
 recruit programmers who might altruistically assist them to modify their
 software, or to at least follow rote instructions to make basic modifications
 themselves.
 More commonly, users also exercise this freedom commercially.  Each user, or
 group of users, may hire anyone they wish in a competitive free market to
 modify and change the software.  This means that companies have a right to
 hire anyone they wish to modify their Free Software.  Additionally, such
 companies may contract with other companies to commission software
 modification.
 \subsection{The Freedom to Copy and Share}

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