Free Software - Introduction to free software and the GPL Copyright © 2007 Marcus Rejås Free Software Foundation Europe I hereby grant everyone the right to use this presentation in any way as long as it is done in a way positive to free software. You cannot use my or Free Software Foundation Europe's name when you do so in any other way than citing this written material. Me or the Free Software Foundation Europe do not endorse your work even if it is based on this presentation. To make this presentation only free software was used! Marcus Rejås, Norrtälje

Stockholm Marcus Rejås Free Software Foundation Europe Stockholm Free Software - Introduction to free software and the GPL

Stockholm ● 34 year old father, beer drinker, biker, nerd, fanatic, sailor, engineer, time optimist ● Free software since 1996 ● Swedish Coordinator for the Linux Documentation Project (tldp) ● Board member (and chairman) The Linux Society of Sweden ● Free Software Foundation Europe Who am I...

Stockholm Disclaimer ● I'm not a lawyer ● If you need legal advice you should contact a legal expert in your area!

Stockholm What does “free” mean? ● Free refers to freedom (not price) ● Freedom has many definitions, but many of them boils down to lack of restraints ● My freedom decreases where someone else's starts ● There must be some rules to ”maximize freedom” ● Software freedom: run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve

Stockholm Free software Originator User Freedom(0) to run the program for any purpose Freedom (1) to study and adapt the program Freedom (2) to redistribute copies Freedom (3) to improve and release improved versions to the public. Nice to know that these are rights not obligations I'm in charge, I make the rules

Stockholm Non copyleft Black Arrow: Free License Red Arrow: Non Free license Everyone with a hat is not free!!

Stockholm Copyleft Everyone has all four freedoms I might feel little restricted

Stockholm Copyleft violation Free A copyleft license does not permit this Non free

Stockholm Fair cooperation and competition ©

Stockholm General Public License (GPL) ● The most common copyleft-license ● New version this year (29/6) ● Implements the four freedoms (and copyleft) ● Relies on copyright laws ● ”Backfires” on violation

Stockholm GPL – You may... ● Use the program in any way you wish ● Modify your copy or have someone else do that for you ● You do not have to publish any source code when you do so ● To just use or have a copy of the program you don't even have to accept the license (§9)

Stockholm GPL – You may... ● Distribute the program without modification as source code. – Only under the same terms as you got it, i.e. GPL – You have to pass on the license text and cannot remove copyright notices – You may charge any price you like for the copies and may offer other services too

Stockholm GPL – You may... ● Distribute the program modified as source code – The entire program must be GPL – You have to state that you altered the program and provide a relevant date – You may mix GPL and non GPL programs as long as it is not a derived work from the GPL program. – Otherwise same terms as when it was unmodified.

Stockholm GPL – You may... ● Distribute the program as binary code – Same condition as in source form, plus – You have to give the complete source code (to the recipient)... ● Embedded in the product or media ● Give a written offer to send the source code ● (Give a copy of such written offer given to you) ● Offer download of the source from the same place as the software, you cannot charge extra for the source. ● If you distribute via p2p you have to tell where the program and source can be downloaded for free by anyone (new §6e)

Stockholm GPL – what is new in v3 ● Same spirit, same goals – New problems have occurred in 16 years ● More international – E.g. Propagate, Convey ● Addresses patent suits (§10 / §8) – To stop agreements like Microsoft/Novell ● Addresses ”Tivoization” (§6)

Stockholm Time for your exam.. May I use the program commercially at work?

Stockholm Modify the program and not publish code?

Stockholm Buy a GPL product and sell it expensive?

Stockholm Demand source code from someone who did not provide the program to me?

Stockholm Give GPL software to my friend without telling it is free software?

Stockholm So, was it that hard? ● Free software is licensing is accused of being very complex ● This is not true as long as you do not distribute free software ● It gets harder when you merge a free product with something else ● But that is not simple with proprietary software either...

Stockholm Questions If you do not ask them now...