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The Free Software Definition
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Free software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions only to ensure that further recipients can also do these things. To make these acts possible, the human readable form of the program (called the source code) must be made available. The source code can be placed in the public domain, accompanied by a software licence saying that the copyright holder permits these acts (a free software licence), etc.
Example: LINUX, UNIX, etc.
Alternative terms for free software have been coined in an attempt to make the use of "free" less ambiguous. The most common is "open-source software", which has since evolved to refer to a subtly different sense of freedom. Free software is also known as "software libre", "free, libre and open-source software" ("FLOSS"), and "free/open-source software" ("FOSS").
[ Retrieved on 25/10/2007 - http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-;sw.html ] |