Free Software Definition
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The Free Software Definition is a foundational document that outlines the essential freedoms users must have to run, study, modify, and share software, serving as the core philosophical and legal basis of the free software movement.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| The Free Software Definition | 1 |
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
foundational document
ⓘ
normative definition ⓘ philosophical text ⓘ software freedom definition ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
software licenses
ⓘ
software programs ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Free Software Foundation ⓘ |
| author | Richard Stallman ⓘ |
| clarifies |
distinction between free software and freeware
ⓘ
meaning of the term "free" in free software ⓘ |
| contrastsWith |
nonfree software
ⓘ
proprietary software ⓘ |
| coreConcept |
freedom to distribute modified versions
ⓘ
freedom to modify the program ⓘ freedom to redistribute copies ⓘ freedom to run the program for any purpose ⓘ freedom to study how the program works ⓘ |
| defines | criteria for free software ⓘ |
| describes | free software ⓘ |
| emphasizes |
collective benefit of sharing software
ⓘ
freedom over price ⓘ users' rights rather than developers' control ⓘ |
| focusesOn |
software ethics
ⓘ
user freedoms ⓘ users' control over computing ⓘ |
| goal |
ensure users' freedom to control their computing
ⓘ
promote sharing and collaboration in software ⓘ |
| hasLegalRole | conceptual basis for free software licensing ⓘ |
| hasPhilosophicalRole | core statement of free software philosophy ⓘ |
| influenced |
GNU General Public License
ⓘ
copyleft licensing practices ⓘ Open Source Initiative ⓘ
surface form:
open source definition
|
| language | English ⓘ |
| maintainedBy | Free Software Foundation ⓘ |
| movement | free software movement ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
GNU Project
ⓘ
copyleft ⓘ digital rights ⓘ software freedom ⓘ |
| requires | access to source code for studying and modifying software ⓘ |
| specifies | essential software freedoms ⓘ |
| status | widely accepted standard in the free software community ⓘ |
| usedBy |
free software advocates
ⓘ
license reviewers ⓘ |
| usedFor |
classifying software as free or nonfree
ⓘ
evaluating software licenses ⓘ |
Referenced by (3)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
The Free Software Definition