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Wordsmith on freedom to run and freedom to modify.

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Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-15 12:36:55 -04:00
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@ -194,44 +194,43 @@ freedom in detail.
\subsection{The Freedom to Run}
For a program to be Free Software, the freedom to run the program must
be completely unrestricted. This means any use for software the user
can come up with must be permitted. Perhaps, for example, the user
has discovered an innovative use for a particular program, one
that the programmer never could have predicted. Such a use must not
be restricted.
The first tenant of software freedom is the user's fully unfettered right to
run the program. The software's license must permit any conceivable use of
the software. Perhaps, for example, the user has discovered an innovative
use for a particular program, one that the programmer never could have
predicted. Such a use must not be restricted.
It was once rare that this freedom was restricted by even proprietary
software; today it is not so rare. Most End User Licensing Agreements
(EULAs) that cover most proprietary software restrict some types of
use. For example, some versions of Microsoft's FrontPage software
prohibit use of the software to create Web sites that generate
negative publicity for Microsoft. Free Software has no such
restrictions; everyone is free to use Free Software for any purpose
whatsoever.
software; but such is quite common today. Most End User Licensing Agreements
(EULAs) that cover most proprietary software typically restrict some types of
uses. Such restrictions of any kind are an unacceptable restriction on
software freedom.
\subsection{The Freedom to Change and Modify}
Free Software programs allow users to change, modify and adapt the
software to suit their needs. Access to the source code and related build
scripts are an essential part of this freedom. Without the source code
and the ability to build the binary applications from that source, the
freedom cannot be properly exercised.
Perhaps the most useful right of software freedom is the users' right to
change, modify and adapt the software to suit their needs. Access to the
source code and related build and installation scripts are an essential part
of this freedom. Without the source code, and the ability to build and
install the binary applications from that source, users cannot effectively
exercise this freedom.
Programmers can take direct benefit from this freedom, and often do.
However, this freedom is also important to users who are not programmers.
Users must have the right to exercise this freedom indirectly in both
commercial and noncommercial settings. For example, users often seek
noncommercial help with the software on email lists and in users groups.
When they find such help, they must have the freedom to recruit
programmers who might altruistically assist them to modify their software.
Programmers take direct benefit from this freedom. However, this freedom
remains important to users who are not programmers. While it may seem
counterintuitive at first, non-programmer users often exercise this freedom
indirectly in both commercial and noncommercial settings. For example, users
often seek noncommercial help with the software on email lists and in users
groups. To make use of such help they must either have the freedom to
recruit programmers who might altruistically assist them to modify their
software, or to at least follow rote instructions to make basic modifications
themselves.
The commercial exercise of this freedom is also essential for users. Each
user, or group of users, must have the right to hire anyone they wish in a
competitive free market to modify and change the software. This means
that companies have a right to hire anyone they wish to modify their Free
Software. Additionally, such companies may contract with other companies
to commission software modification.
More commonly, users also exercise this freedom commercially. Each user, or
group of users, may hire anyone they wish in a competitive free market to
modify and change the software. This means that companies have a right to
hire anyone they wish to modify their Free Software. Additionally, such
companies may contract with other companies to commission software
modification.
\subsection{The Freedom to Copy and Share}