Difference between revisions of "Free software license"
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A '''free software licence''' is a notice that grants the recipient of a piece of [[software]] extensive rights to modify and redistribute that software. | A '''free software licence''' is a notice that grants the recipient of a piece of [[software]] extensive rights to modify and redistribute that software. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Description == | ||
These actions are usually prohibited by copyright law, but the rights-holder (usually the author) of a piece of software can remove these restrictions by accompanying the software with a software license which grants the recipient these rights. | These actions are usually prohibited by copyright law, but the rights-holder (usually the author) of a piece of software can remove these restrictions by accompanying the software with a software license which grants the recipient these rights. | ||
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Some free software licenses include "copyleft" provisions which require all future versions to also be distributed with these freedoms. Other, "permissive", free software licenses are usually just a few lines containing the grant of rights and a disclaimer of warranty, thus also allowing distributors to add restrictions for further recipients. | Some free software licenses include "copyleft" provisions which require all future versions to also be distributed with these freedoms. Other, "permissive", free software licenses are usually just a few lines containing the grant of rights and a disclaimer of warranty, thus also allowing distributors to add restrictions for further recipients. | ||
| − | == GNU == | + | == GNU General Public License == |
| − | The most widely used free software license is the GNU General Public License. | + | The most widely used free software license is the [[GNU General Public License]]. |
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Apache License]] | * [[Apache License]] | ||
| + | * [[BSD licenses]] | ||
| + | * [[GNU General Public License]] | ||
| + | * [[MIT License]] | ||
| + | * [[Permissive free software license]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software_license Free software license] @ Wikipedia | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software_license Free software license] @ Wikipedia | ||
Revision as of 05:15, 30 August 2015
A free software licence is a notice that grants the recipient of a piece of software extensive rights to modify and redistribute that software.
Description
These actions are usually prohibited by copyright law, but the rights-holder (usually the author) of a piece of software can remove these restrictions by accompanying the software with a software license which grants the recipient these rights.
Software using such a licence is free software as conferred by the copyright holder.
Copyleft
Some free software licenses include "copyleft" provisions which require all future versions to also be distributed with these freedoms. Other, "permissive", free software licenses are usually just a few lines containing the grant of rights and a disclaimer of warranty, thus also allowing distributors to add restrictions for further recipients.
GNU General Public License
The most widely used free software license is the GNU General Public License.
See also
External links
- Free software license @ Wikipedia
