From f58d197fe1b4991a257e3739cefb43a13abcde3c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Bradley M. Kuhn" Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:57:05 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Minor wordsmithing in the freedom to share improvements. --- gpl-lgpl.tex | 36 ++++++++++++++++++------------------ 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-) diff --git a/gpl-lgpl.tex b/gpl-lgpl.tex index e3675d7..619423a 100644 --- a/gpl-lgpl.tex +++ b/gpl-lgpl.tex @@ -265,39 +265,39 @@ share commercially.) \subsection{The Freedom to Share Improvements} The freedom to modify and improve is somewhat empty without the freedom to -share those improvements. The Free Software community is built on the +share those improvements. The Software freedom community is built on the pillar of altruistic sharing of improved Free Software. Inevitably, a Free Software project sprouts a mailing list where improvements are shared -freely among members of the development community. Such noncommercial -sharing must be permitted for Free Software to thrive. +freely among members of the development community. Such noncommercial +sharing is the primary reason that Free Software thrives. Commercial sharing of modified Free Software is equally important. For commercial support to exist in a competitive free market, all -developers --- from single-person contractors to large software -companies --- must have the freedom to market their services as -improvers of Free Software. All forms of such service marketing must +developers -- from single-person contractors to large software +companies -- must have the freedom to market their services as +improvers of Free Software. All forms of such service marketing must be equally available to all. For example, selling support services for Free Software is fully permitted. Companies and individuals can offer themselves as ``the place -to call'' when software fails or does not function properly. For such a -service to be meaningful, the entity offering that service must have the +to call'' when software fails or does not function properly. For such a +service to be meaningful, the entity offering that service needs the right to modify and improve the software for the customer to correct any problems that are beyond mere user error. -Entities must also be permitted to make available modified versions of -Free Software. Most Free Software programs have a ``standard version'' -that is made available from the primary developers of the software. -However, all who have the software have the ``freedom to fork'' --- that -is, make available nontrivial modified versions of the software on a -permanent or semi-permanent basis. Such freedom is central to vibrant -developer and user interaction. +Software freedom licenses also permit any entity to distribute modified +versions of Free Software. Most Free Software programs have a ``standard +version'' that is made available from the primary developers of the software. +However, all who have the software have the ``freedom to fork'' -- that is, +make available nontrivial modified versions of the software on a permanent or +semi-permanent basis. Such freedom is central to vibrant developer and user +interaction. Companies and individuals have the right to make true value-added versions -of Free Software. They may use freedom to share improvements to +of Free Software. They may use freedom to share improvements to distribute distinct versions of Free Software with different functionality -and features. Furthermore, this freedom can be exercised to serve a -disenfranchised subset of the user community. If the developers of the +and features. Furthermore, this freedom can be exercised to serve a +disenfranchised subset of the user community. If the developers of the standard version refuse to serve the needs of some of the software's users, other entities have the right to create a long- or short-lived fork to serve that sub-community.