The meaning of "free"

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Article #270

#270

From: Richard Stallman
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 13:00

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      the thing with gcc is that you can get the compiler for free.

I urge people to avoid using the term "for free" to describe what
is free about GNU software.

The word "free" in "free software" refers to liberty, not price.
Specifically, it refers to the users' freedom to study, copy, change
and improve the software.  This is the freedom that the GNU General
Public License protects.  Sometimes users get copies of GNU software
"for free", and sometimes they pay for copies.  But regardless of how
they got the software, they have the freedom to copy and change it.

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Newsgroups: gnu.gcc.help
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!gnu.ai.mit.edu!rms
From: rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Richard Stallman)
Subject: The meaning of "free"
Message-ID: <9208272100.AA29391@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu>
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Distribution: gnu
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 13:00:58 GMT
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