On the meaning of free software |
| |
Authors: | M J Wolf K W Miller F S Grodzinsky |
| |
Institution: | (1) School of Geographical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA |
| |
Abstract: | To many who develop and use free software, the GNU General Public License represents an embodiment of the meaning of free
software. In this paper we examine the definition and meaning of free software in the context of three events surrounding
the GNU General Public License. We use a case involving the GPU software project to establish the importance of Freedom 0
in the meaning of free software. We analyze version 3 of the GNU General Public License and conclude that although a credible
case can be made that the added restrictions are consistent with the definition of free software, the case requires subtle
arguments. Strong arguments against the added restrictions are less subtle, and may therefore be more convincing to many users
and developers. We also analyze the Affero General Public License and conclude that it is inconsistent with the definition
of free software. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|