<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > The four freedoms: > Freedom 0: The freedom to run a program for any purpose. > Freedom 1: To study the way a program works, and adapt it to your needs. > Freedom 2: To redistribute copies so that you can help your neighbors. > Freedom 3: Improve the program, and release your improvements to > the public, so that the whole community benefits. > For freedom 1 and 3 to work, the code must be open. > > Freedom 1 is just as important as the other three. Freedom one is > almost eliminated in GPLv3. Freedom One is the freedom that was > most whole heartedly expressed in the original manifesto.
Just how does GPLv3 almost eliminate this? It still requires that if anyone obtains a binary of the program then they must either be given or be able to obtain the source. From this source they can study the program and make any adaptations they require to make it fit their needs. If they then distribute the adapted code, the adapted program must be released under GPLv3 (or optionally a later version). So all recipients of the adapted program must be able to obtain its source and therefore, should they so desire, study the program and make further adaptations themselves. AFAICS GPLv3 adds an additional freedom to such recipients over that offered by GPLv2 in that if the program is received with hardware and the hardware 'verifies' the code before running it then the mechanism for allowing binaries built from any adaptations to also verify must be supplied. So rather than almost eliminating Freedom One, GPLv3 actually enhances it. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
