Free Software Licensing Resources — Free Software Foundation

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} #fsf-modal-window-elem-buttons a { width: 100%; display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 35px; color: #fff; /* Text */ text-decoration: none; font-family: sans-serif,"Helvetica",Arial; font-weight: normal; } #fsf-modal-window-elem-maybe-later { margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: -5px; } #fsf-modal-window-elem-maybe-later a { color: #367c93; /* Text */ line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; font-family: sans-serif,"Helvetica",Arial; font-size: 16px; } #fsf-modal-window-elem-text a { color: #fdd538; /* Text */ font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; } #fsf-modal-window-elem-text p { font-family: sans-serif,"Helvetica",Arial; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px; line-height: 20px; color: #fff; /* Text */ } </style> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-container" style="display: none;"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-outer-v-center"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-inner-v-center"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-header"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-close-button" onclick="//fsfModalWindowElemDontShowForAWhile();"> <i class="fa fa-close"></i> </div> <h2>Technological freedom is important more than ever!</h2> </div> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-left-column"> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-text"> <p> Please take thirty seconds to read this: free software makes up the building blocks to anything. You can use it to tailor programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. This is why the FSF has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and tirelessly campaigns for free software adoption. </p> <p> Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support. Build a better world with us by matching the average donation of USD $46.22. </p> <p><span id="fsf-modal-window-text-link"><a href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?mtm_campaign=fall24&mtm_source=modal">Donate</a> | <a href="https://www.fsf.org/appeal?mtm_campaign=fall24&mtm_source=modal">Read more</a></span></p> </div> </div> <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-right-column">  <div id="fsf-modal-window-elem-buttons" style="border-radius: 20px;box-shadow: 5px 0 5px -6px #0c2b2b, -5px 0 5px -6px #0c2b2b;"> <div class="join" style="background-color:#3498DB; border-top-right-radius: 20px; border-top-left-radius: 20px;"> <a style="color:#fdd538;text-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #2670a1;" href="https://my.fsf.org/join?mtm_campaign=fall24&mtm_source=modal" onclick="//fsfModalWindowElemFollowedLink();"> <i class="fa fa-check-circle"> </i>Join </a> </div> <div class="renew" style="background-color:#2ecc71;"> <a style="color: #FFF;text-shadow: 0px 0px 8px #219452;" href="https://my.fsf.org/renew?mtm_campaign=fall24&mtm_source=modal" onclick="//fsfModalWindowElemFollowedLink();"> <i class="fa fa-refresh"> </i>Renew </a> </div> <div class="donate" style="background-color:#1abc9c; border-bottom-right-radius: 20px; border-bottom-left-radius: 20px; margin-bottom: 2px"> <a style="text-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #138c74;" href="https://my.fsf.org/donate?mtm_campaign=fall24&mtm_source=modal" onclick="//fsfModalWindowElemFollowedLink();"> <i class="fa fa-money"> </i>Donate </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script> // @license magnet:?xt=urn:btih:1f739d935676111cfff4b4693e3816e664797050&dn=gpl-3.0.txt GPL-3.0 // Licensed GPL-3.0-or-later by Andrew Engelbrecht. var startTime, endTime, switchTextTime; startTime = new Date('2024-06-08T04:00:00Z'); switchTextTime = new Date('2024-07-30T04:00:00Z'); // Turning this off for now. // endTime is unused. // endTime = new Date('2024-07-29T04:00:00Z'); // Possibly switch the text that is displayed in the modal window, depending // upon the current date. function fsfModalWindowElemMaybeSwitchText () { var now; now = new Date(); if (now.getTime() < switchTextTime.getTime()) { return; // Do not switch the text. } // Switch text document.getElementById("fsf-modal-window-elem-text").innerHTML =' \ \ <p>Please take thirty seconds to read this: free software makes up the building blocks to anything. You can use it to tailor programs that work for you, combine things as you wish, and share these building blocks with others. This is why the FSF has published and promoted free software licenses since 1985, sponsors the GNU System, and tirelessly campaigns for free software adoption.<\/p> \ \ <p>Powered by member dues and donations, the FSF can only continue to be the cornerstone of a more just digital society with your support. 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</span> </span> <span id="breadcrumbs-1" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing">Licensing</a> <span class="breadcrumbSeparator"> &rsaquo; </span> </span> <span id="breadcrumbs-2" dir="ltr"> <span id="breadcrumbs-current">Free Software Licensing Resources</span> </span> </div></div> <div class=""> <dl class="portalMessage info" id="kssPortalMessage" style="display:none"> <dt>Info</dt> <dd></dd> </dl> <article> <div id="content"> <div id="viewlet-above-content-title"></div> <h1 id="parent-fieldname-title" class="documentFirstHeading"> Free Software Licensing Resources </h1> <div id="viewlet-below-content-title"><div class="documentByLine" id="plone-document-byline"> <span class="documentAuthor"> by <a href="https://www.fsf.org/author/brett">Brett Smith</a> <a href="https://www.fsf.org/contribs/brett" class="netscape4"> Contributions </a> </span> <span class="documentModified"> — <span> Published on </span> Nov 06, 2006 02:16 PM </span> </div></div> <div id="parent-fieldname-description" class="documentDescription"> Learn more about free software licenses and related issues. </div> <div id="viewlet-above-content-body"> </div> <div id="content-core"> <div class="" id="parent-fieldname-text-eae0da2d92c6bb34627ec1c100811fa8"> <p>Whether you're a new user who wants to learn more about the GNU GPL, or a developer curious about how a license affects you, we have a number of resources to help you find the information you're looking for.</p> <h2>The GNU licenses</h2> <p>The following licenses are published by the Free Software Foundation:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/licensing/licenses/gpl.html" title="GNU General Public License">GNU General Public License (GPL)</a></li> <li><a href="/licensing/licenses/lgpl.html" title="GNU Lesser General Public License">GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/agpl.html" title="GNU Affero General Public License">GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL)</a></li> <li><a href="/licensing/licenses/fdl.html" title="GNU Free Documentation License">GNU Free Documentation License (FDL)</a></li> </ul> <h2>Answers to common questions</h2> <p>If you have a particular question about a free software license, there's a good chance you'll find an answer on one of the pages below. These resources are primarily aimed at developers and users who are especially interested in licensing issues.</p> <ul> <li>The <a href="/licensing/licenses/gpl-howto.html" title="How to use GNU licenses for your own software">GPL Howto</a> explains how you can release the software you write under a GNU license. If you're about to publish a new program, just follow this step-by-step guide.</li> <li>The <a href="/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html" title="Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses">GNU license FAQ</a> lists many common questions about GNU licenses, and provides answers which are clear and concise.</li> <li><a href="/licensing/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html">A Quick Guide to GPLv3</a> explains the new features of the latest version of the GPL, and how they benefit people developing and distributing GPLv3-covered software.</li> <li>Our <a href="/licensing/licenses/license-list.html" title="License list">list of licenses</a> offers basic information about many common software licenses, such as whether or not it's a free software license, and if it's GPL-compatible. It also includes licenses for related materials such as documentation and general data.</li> <li>We've published <a href="/licensing/licenses/gpl-violation.html" title="Instructions for reporting free software license violations">instructions for reporting license violations</a>. Please follow these steps if you think you've found a violation of any free software license.</li> </ul> <h2>Speeches and seminars</h2> <p>We occasionally give speeches about special topics, and conduct seminars to provide a comprehensive review of a particular license or issue. Check the <a href="/events" title="Upcoming FSF Events">FSF Events page</a> to see what's on our calendar. If you'd like to arrange a talk for your organization, please <a href="/licensing/contact" title="Contact the FSF Compliance Lab">contact us</a>.</p> <h2>Blog</h2> <p>The <a href="/blogs/licensing" title="Compliance Lab Blog">Compliance Lab blog</a> reports news of interest to licensing wonks, and provides background about the work we're doing. <a href="/licensing/contact" title="Contact the FSF Compliance Lab">Let us know</a> if you've found an issue we should be talking about.</p> <h2>Answers by email</h2> <p>If none of this information has answered your question, don't despair -- just write us and we'll be happy to answer it. For developers of proprietary software, we also offer paid support. All you have to do is send an email to <a href="mailto:licensing@fsf.org" title="Ask a licensing question">licensing@fsf.org</a>, and we'll be in touch.</p> </div> </div> <div id="viewlet-below-content-body"> <div class="visualClear"></div> <div class="documentActions"> <h5 class="hiddenStructure">Document Actions</h5> <ul> <li><b><a href="/share?u=https://www.fsf.org/licensing/education&t=Free Software Licensing Resources">Share on social networks</a></b></li> <li>Syndicate:</li> <li><a href="/static/fsforg/rss/news.xml">News</a></li> <li><a href="/static/fsforg/rss/events.xml">Events</a></li> <li><a href="/static/fsforg/rss/blogs.xml">Blogs</a></li> <li><a href="/static/fsforg/rss/jobs.xml">Jobs</a></li> <li id="document-action-copy_of_full_screen"> <a href="http://www.gnu.org/rss/whatsnew.rss" title="">GNU</a> </li> <li id="document-action-print"> <a href="" title=""></a> </li> </ul> </div></div> </div> </article> </div> <div id="viewlet-below-content"> </div> </div> </div></div></div> <div id="fsf-sidebar" class="yui-b visualNoPrint"> <aside> <span style="display: none;">1PC9aZC4hNX2rmmrt7uHTfYAS3hRbph4UN</span> <div id="search"> <form id="sidesearch" name="searchform" action="/search"> <p><input name="SearchableText" tabindex="1" type="text" size="30" title="Search Site" /></p> <p><input class="searchButton" type="submit" value="Search" /></p> </form> </div> <div class="visualPadding"> <div class="portletWrapper" data-portlethash="706c6f6e652e7269676874636f6c756d6e0a636f6e746578740a2f6673662f6c6963656e73696e670a74616b652d616374696f6e" id="portletwrapper-706c6f6e652e7269676874636f6c756d6e0a636f6e746578740a2f6673662f6c6963656e73696e670a74616b652d616374696f6e"> <dl class="portlet portletStaticText portlet-static-fsf-anniversary-logo-contest"> <dt class="portletHeader"> <span class="portletTopLeft"></span> <span> FSF Anniversary Logo Contest </span> <span class="portletTopRight"></span> </dt> <dd class="portletItem odd"> <div style="width:220px; 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