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Minor wordsmithing in the freedom to share improvements.

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Bradley M. Kuhn 2014-03-15 12:57:05 -04:00
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@ -265,39 +265,39 @@ share commercially.)
\subsection{The Freedom to Share Improvements} \subsection{The Freedom to Share Improvements}
The freedom to modify and improve is somewhat empty without the freedom to 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 pillar of altruistic sharing of improved Free Software. Inevitably, a
Free Software project sprouts a mailing list where improvements are shared Free Software project sprouts a mailing list where improvements are shared
freely among members of the development community. Such noncommercial freely among members of the development community. Such noncommercial
sharing must be permitted for Free Software to thrive. sharing is the primary reason that Free Software thrives.
Commercial sharing of modified Free Software is equally important. Commercial sharing of modified Free Software is equally important.
For commercial support to exist in a competitive free market, all For commercial support to exist in a competitive free market, all
developers --- from single-person contractors to large software developers -- from single-person contractors to large software
companies --- must have the freedom to market their services as companies -- must have the freedom to market their services as
improvers of Free Software. All forms of such service marketing must improvers of Free Software. All forms of such service marketing must
be equally available to all. be equally available to all.
For example, selling support services for Free Software is fully For example, selling support services for Free Software is fully
permitted. Companies and individuals can offer themselves as ``the place permitted. Companies and individuals can offer themselves as ``the place
to call'' when software fails or does not function properly. For such a 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 service to be meaningful, the entity offering that service needs the
right to modify and improve the software for the customer to correct any right to modify and improve the software for the customer to correct any
problems that are beyond mere user error. problems that are beyond mere user error.
Entities must also be permitted to make available modified versions of Software freedom licenses also permit any entity to distribute modified
Free Software. Most Free Software programs have a ``standard version'' versions of Free Software. Most Free Software programs have a ``standard
that is made available from the primary developers of the software. version'' that is made available from the primary developers of the software.
However, all who have the software have the ``freedom to fork'' --- that However, all who have the software have the ``freedom to fork'' -- that is,
is, make available nontrivial modified versions of the software on a make available nontrivial modified versions of the software on a permanent or
permanent or semi-permanent basis. Such freedom is central to vibrant semi-permanent basis. Such freedom is central to vibrant developer and user
developer and user interaction. interaction.
Companies and individuals have the right to make true value-added versions 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 distribute distinct versions of Free Software with different functionality
and features. Furthermore, this freedom can be exercised to serve a and features. Furthermore, this freedom can be exercised to serve a
disenfranchised subset of the user community. If the developers of the disenfranchised subset of the user community. If the developers of the
standard version refuse to serve the needs of some of the software's 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 users, other entities have the right to create a long- or short-lived fork
to serve that sub-community. to serve that sub-community.