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Open-Source License
    Keywords: Software

Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer.

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

  • The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
  • The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
  • The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
  • The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The usual license is the [ext] General Public License (GPL), but many others exist, with some difference.

The terms [ext] free software and [ext] open-source software are related; see [ext] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-for-freedom.html for more information.


This is somehow the equivalent of the Open Content License under which this Website is published.



This is a copy of the living page "Open-Source License" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.