(debian-policy.info)The Debian Free Software Guidelines


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2.1 The Debian Free Software Guidelines
=======================================

The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) form our definition of “free
software”.  These are:

  1. 
     Free Redistribution

          The license of a Debian component may not restrict any party
          from selling or giving away the software as a component of an
          aggregate software distribution containing programs from
          several different sources.  The license may not require a
          royalty or other fee for such sale.

  2. 
     Source Code

          The program must include source code, and must allow
          distribution in source code as well as compiled form.

  3. 
     Derived Works

          The license must allow modifications and derived works, and
          must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the
          license of the original software.

  4. 
     Integrity of The Author’s Source Code

          The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in
          modified form `only' if the license allows the distribution of
          “patch files” with the source code for the purpose of
          modifying the program at build time.  The license must
          explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified
          source code.  The license may require derived works to carry a
          different name or version number from the original software.
          (This is a compromise.  The Debian Project encourages all
          authors to not restrict any files, source or binary, from
          being modified.)

  5. 
     No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

          The license must not discriminate against any person or group
          of persons.

  6. 
     No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

          The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the
          program in a specific field of endeavor.  For example, it may
          not restrict the program from being used in a business, or
          from being used for genetic research.

  7. 
     Distribution of License

          The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom
          the program is redistributed without the need for execution of
          an additional license by those parties.

  8. 
     License Must Not Be Specific to Debian

          The rights attached to the program must not depend on the
          program’s being part of a Debian system.  If the program is
          extracted from Debian and used or distributed without Debian
          but otherwise within the terms of the program’s license, all
          parties to whom the program is redistributed must have the
          same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the
          Debian system.

  9. 
     License Must Not Contaminate Other Software

          The license must not place restrictions on other software that
          is distributed along with the licensed software.  For example,
          the license must not insist that all other programs
          distributed on the same medium must be free software.

  10. 
     Example Licenses

          The “GPL,” “BSD,” and “Artistic” licenses are examples of
          licenses that we consider `free'.


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