Free Software

Published Mo, 05/02/2007 - 01:25

Anmelden um Kommentare zu schreiben

The term Free Software describes both a development and a licensing model for software projects.

Development Model

Free Software describes an open, collaborative development model without restrictions on distribution terms. It takes advantage of conspicuous peer review which results in every problem becoming shallow. Issues can get resolved quickly due to continuous and thorough testing by users. Development processes are transparent and solution oriented, thoroughly applied Free Software concepts help to produce highest quality code.

License Models

To provide both users and developers with a legally binding framework, a special license model was developed in the 1980s, of which the GNU GPL (General Public License) is probably the best known example. Free Software licenses are designed to protect the rights of users and developers alike.

Distribution terms include the right to distribute copies and to add modifications and additions under the same conditions. Four freedoms are granted to the user:

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.

Thus, for the software to be 'free', its source code needs to be published, hence Open Source.

Proprietary licenses are designed instead to restrict use of the software and take away users' rights.

Legal Aspects

Free Software is perfectly legal, transparent and completely open to public discourse - something that cannot be said of proprietary licensed software. Free Software thus is not "unlicensed". The GNU GPL license was developed by Richard Stallman and two lawyers in 1983. Apart from requiring that the source code be published the license also defines distribution terms that protect user rights.

With this license model the term "Copyleft" was coined, a catchy term which is explained in some detail by the Free Software Foundation on the page What is Copyleft. In a nutshell:

To copyleft a program, we first state that it is copyrighted; then we add distribution terms, which are a legal instrument that gives everyone the rights to use, modify, and redistribute the program's code or any program derived from it but only if the distribution terms are unchanged. Thus, the code and the freedoms become legally inseparable.

Proprietary software vendors use copyright to take away the users' freedom; we use copyright to guarantee their freedom. That's why we reverse the name, changing "copyright'' into "copyleft."

So, the main difference between proprietary and Free Software is the condition of its distribution.

Software - An Abstract Good

Software can be copied unlimited times without wearing out. Its availability is not subject to any natural shortage, as is the case with most physical goods. Therefore technical solutions need to be implemented in order to restrict its distribution. These can be broken and regularly are. There is little sense of wrong-doing in people when they copy and use software without acquiring license usage rights, because in many cases it is cheaper as well as easier not to. Therefore legal frameworks have been set up to enforce the adherence to restrictive license terms. Given how easy it s to break licensing terms every user is automatically put into a position where she is suspected to be in breach of common legislation.

With Free Software, these problems do not exist: the user is explicitly asked to use and disseminate the software, so that it may be improved and grow its market position by an extended user community.