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The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a nonprofit with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom.
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What is free software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation?
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Richard Stallman [6] on October 4, 1985, to support the free software movement, with the organization's preference for software being distributed under copyleft ("share alike") terms, [7] such as with its own GNU General Public License. [8]
To use free software is to make a political and ethical choice asserting the right to learn, and share what we learn with others. Free software has become the foundation of a learning society where we share our knowledge in a way that others can build upon and enjoy.
The Free Software Foundation is working to secure freedom for computer users by promoting the development and use of free (as in freedom) software and documentation—particularly the GNU operating system—and by campaigning against threats to computer user freedom like Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and software patents.
- The Free Software Definition
- Clarifying The Boundary Between Free and Nonfree
- The Free Software Definition in Practice
- Beyond Software
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- Footnote
The free software definition presents the criteria for whether aparticular software program qualifies as free software. From time totime we revise this definition, to clarify it or to resolve questionsabout subtle issues. See the History sectionbelow for a list of changes that affect the definition of freesoftware.
In the rest of this article we explain more precisely how far thevarious freedoms need to extend, on various issues, in order for aprogram to be free.
How we interpret these criteria
Note that criteria such as those stated in this free softwaredefinition require careful thought for their interpretation. To decidewhether a specific software license qualifies as a free software license,we judge it based on these criteria to determine whether it fits theirspirit as well as the precise words. If a license includes unconscionablerestrictions, we reject it, even if we did not anticipate the issuein these criteria. Sometimes a license requirement raises an issuethat calls for ex...
Get help with free licenses
If you are interested in whether a specific license qualifies as a freesoftware license, see our listof licenses. If the license you are concerned with is notlisted there, you can ask us about it by sending us email at . If you are contemplating writing a new license, please contact theFree Software Foundation first by writing to that address. Theproliferation of different free software licenses means increased workfor users in understanding the licenses; we may be able to...
Use the right words when talking about free software
When talking about free software, it is best to avoid using termslike “give away” or “for free,” because those terms imply thatthe issue is about price, not freedom. Some common terms suchas “piracy” embody opinions we hope you won't endorse. See Confusing Words and Phrases thatare Worth Avoiding for a discussion of these terms. We also havea list of proper translations of“free software”into various languages. Another group uses the term “open source” to meansomething close (but not identical...
Software manuals must be free,for the same reasons that software must be free, and because themanuals are in effect part of the software. The same arguments also make sense for other kinds of works ofpractical use—that is to say, works that embody useful knowledge,such as educational works and referenceworks. Wikipediais the best-knownexample. Any ...
From time to time we revise this Free Software Definition. Here isthe list of substantive changes, along with links to show exactly whatwas changed. 1. Version1.169: Explain more clearly why the four freedoms must applyto commercial activity. Explain why the four freedoms imply thefreedom not to run the program and the freedom to delete it, so ther...
The reason they are numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 is historical. Around1990 there were three freedoms, numbered 1, 2 and 3. Then we realized thatthe freedom to run the program needed to be mentioned expli...
Software development for the GNU operating system began in January 1984, and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) was founded in October 1985. An article outlining the project and its goals was published in March 1985 titled the GNU Manifesto.
Sep 11, 2021 · The idea of the Free Software Movement is that computer users deserve the freedom to form a community. You should have the freedom to help yourself, by changing the source code to do whatever you need to do. And the freedom to help your neighbor, by redistributing copies of programs to other people.
