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 The Open Source Definition

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Version 1.9

The indented, italicized sections below appear as annotations to the Open Source

Definition (OSD) and are not a part of the OSD. A plain version of the OSD without

annotations can be found here. Introduction

Open source doesn't just mean access to the source code. The distribution terms of

open-source software must comply with the following criteria:

1. Free Redistribution

The license shall 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 shall not require a royalty or other fee for such sale.

Rationale: By constraining the license to require free redistribution, we eliminate the

temptation to throw away many long-term gains in order to make a few short-term sales

dollars. If we didn't do this, there would be lots of pressure for cooperators to defect.

2. Source Code

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

as compiled form. Where some form of a product is not distributed with source code, there

must be a well-publicized means of obtaining the source code for no more than a reasonable

reproduction cost preferably, downloading via the Internet without charge. The source code

must be the preferred form in which a programmer would modify the program. Deliberately

obfuscated source code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as the output of a

preprocessor or translator are not allowed.

Rationale: We require access to un-obfuscated source code because you can't evolve

programs without modifying them. Since our purpose is to make evolution easy, we require

that modification be made easy.

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.

Rationale: The mere ability to read source isn't enough to support independent peer review

and rapid evolutionary selection. For rapid evolution to happen, people need to be able to

experiment with and redistribute modifications.

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.

Rationale: Encouraging lots of improvement is a good thing, but users have a right to know

who is responsible for the software they are using. Authors and maintainers have

reciprocal right to know what they're being asked to support and protect their

reputations.

Accordingly, an open-source license must guarantee that source be readily available, but

may require that it be distributed as pristine base sources plus patches. In this way,

"unofficial" changes can be made available but readily distinguished from the base source.

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

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

Rationale: In order to get the maximum benefit from the process, the maximum diversity of

persons and groups should be equally eligible to contribute to open sources. Therefore we

forbid any open-source license from locking anybody out of the process.

Some countries, including the United States, have export restrictions for certain types of

software. An OSD-conformant license may warn licensees of applicable restrictions and

remind them that they are obliged to obey the law; however, it may not incorporate such

restrictions itself.

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.

Rationale: The major intention of this clause is to prohibit license traps that prevent

open source from being used commercially. We want commercial users to join our community,

not feel excluded from it.

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.

Rationale: This clause is intended to forbid closing up software by indirect means such as

requiring a non-disclosure agreement.

8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product

The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a

particular software distribution. If the program is extracted from that distribution and

used or distributed within the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the

program is redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in

conjunction with the original software distribution.

Rationale: This clause forecloses yet another class of license traps.

9. License Must Not Restrict 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 open-source software.

Rationale: Distributors of open-source software have the right to make their own choices

about their own software.

Yes, the GPL is conformant with this requirement. Software linked with GPLed libraries

only inherits the GPL if it forms a single work, not any software with which they are

merely distributed.

10. License Must Be Technology-Neutral

No provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of

interface.

Rationale: This provision is aimed specifically at licenses which require an explicit

gesture of assent in order to establish a contract between licensor and licensee.

Provisions mandating so-called "click-wrap" may conflict with important methods of

software distribution such as FTP download, CD-ROM anthologies, and web mirroring; such

provisions may also hinder code re-use. Conformant licenses must allow for the possibility

that (a) redistribution of the software will take place over non-Web channels that do not

support click-wrapping of the download, and that (b) the covered code (or re-used portions

of covered code) may run in a non-GUI environment that cannot support popup dialogues.

* Social Contract with the Free Software Community

Version 1.1

1. Debian will remain 100% free

We provide the guidelines that we use to determine if a work is free in the document

entitled The Debian Free Software Guidelines. We promise that the Debian system and all

its components will be free according to these guidelines. We will support people who

create or use both free and non-free works on Debian. We will never make the system

require the use of a non-free component.

2. We will give back to the free software community

When we write new components of the Debian system, we will license them in a manner

consistent with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. We will make the best system we can,

so that free works will be widely distributed and used. We will communicate things such as

bug fixes, improvements and user requests to the upstream authors of works included in our

system.

3. We will not hide problems

We will keep our entire bug report database open for public view at all times. Reports

that people file online will promptly become visible to others.

4. Our priorities are our users and free software

We will be guided by the needs of our users and the free software community. We will place

their interests first in our priorities. We will support the needs of our users for

operation in many different kinds of computing environments. We will not object to

non-free works that are intended to be used on Debian systems, or attempt to charge a fee

to people who create or use such works. We will allow others to create distributions

containing both the Debian system and other works, without any fee from us. In furtherance

of these goals, we will provide an integrated system of high-quality materials with no

legal restrictions that would prevent such uses of the system.

5. Works that do not meet our free software standards

We acknowledge that some of our users require the use of works that do not conform to the

Debian Free Software Guidelines. We have created contrib and non-free areas in our archive

for these works. The packages in these areas are not part of the Debian system, although

they have been configured for use with Debian. We encourage CD manufacturers to read the

licenses of the packages in these areas and determine if they can distribute the packages

on their CDs. Thus, although non-free works are not a part of Debian, we support their use

and provide infrastructure for non-free packages (such as our bug tracking system and

mailing lists).

* The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG)

 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 group encourages all authors not to 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 should 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.

* The Free Software Definition

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change

and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the

users of the software:

 * 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.