Apples and Oranges

``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``free speech,'' not as in ``free beer.''

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).

The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).

The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

You should also have the freedom to make modifications and use them privately in your own work or play, without even mentioning that they exist. If you do publish your changes, you should not be required to notify anyone in particular, or in any particular way.

One important way to modify a program is by merging in available free subroutines and modules. If the program's license says that you cannot merge in an existing module, such as if it requires you to be the copyright holder of any code you add, then the license is too restrictive to qualify as free.

In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the power to revoke the license, without your doing anything to give cause, the software is not free.

Digital technology is more flexible than the printing press: when information has digital form, you can easily copy it to share it with others. This very flexibility makes a bad fit with a system like copyright. That's the reason for the increasingly nasty and draconian measures now used to enforce software copyright. Consider these four practices of the Software Publishers Association (SPA):

Massive propaganda saying it is wrong to disobey the owners to help your friend.

Solicitation for stool pigeons to inform on their coworkers and colleagues.

Raids (with police help) on offices and schools, in which people are told they must prove they are innocent of illegal copying.

Prosecution (by the US government, at the SPA's request) of people such as MIT's David LaMacchia, not for copying software (he is not accused of copying any), but merely for leaving copying facilities unguarded and failing to censor their use.

What does society need? It needs information that is truly available to its citizens---for example, programs that people can read, fix, adapt, and improve, not just operate. But what software owners typically deliver is a black box that we can't study or change.

Society also needs freedom. When a program has an owner, the users lose freedom to control part of their own lives.

And above all society needs to encourage the spirit of voluntary cooperation in its citizens. When software owners tell us that helping our neighbors in a natural way is ``piracy'', they pollute our society's civic spirit.

This is why we say that free software is a matter of freedom, not price.

The Future of Jiyuna Software

Keynote Speech by Richard Stallman

(Transcript)

Date: 21 April 2003

Venue: Seminar Room, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry

(RIETI), (Annex 11th Floor, 1121 Ministry of Economy, Trade and

Industry (METI))

Mr. Richard Stallman, GNU Project: I am going to speak about free software and, first of all, its ethical, social and political significance, and secondly, something about its economic consequences.

Free software is a matter of freedom. The English word "free" does not make this clear because it has two meanings. In your language, fortunately, you have two different words. So, if you say jiyu na sofuto, it is very clear that you are not talking about the price, you are talking about freedom. So, I urge you, always use your unambiguous word and not our unclear word when you are talking about free software in Japanese.

The reason for having free software is very simple: to live in freedom and, in particular, to be free to treat other people decently. Non-free software says that you are helpless and divided. It says you cannot even tell what the program does; you are supposed to take the developer's word for it; and often they will not tell you what it really does. And if you do not like it, you cannot change it. Even if the developer made his best sincere effort to make the program useful, nobody is perfect. I could write a program, and you might find it halfway good for what you want. Perhaps I wrote it for somewhat different purposes, not the same as your purposes. Nobody can anticipate everything. Perhaps I did it the way I thought was best, but you have a better idea. Nobody can always get everything right.

With non-free software you are stuck. You have to take it the way it is. You have to suffer with it. And most important with non-free software, you are forbidden to share with other people. Society depends on people helping each other. It is useful to live with neighbors who will help you when you ask for help. Of course, not always, nobody is forced to help another person, but if you are friends with people, often they will help you out. So, of course, we had better help other people if we want them to help us.

So what is it like when someone says you are prohibited from helping someone else? Here is this useful knowledge, and you could help your neighbor by sharing it, but you are forbidden to share with other people. This is attacking the bonds of society, dissolving society into isolated individuals who cannot help each other.

Free software is the contrast to this. Free software means that you have four essential freedoms. Freedom zero is the freedom to run the program for any purpose, in any way that you want to. Freedom one