4 \section*{GNU General Public License}
5 \label{_ChapterStart20}
6 \index[general]{GNU General Public License }
7 \index[general]{License!GNU General Public }
8 \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{GNU General Public License}
10 \elink{image of a Philosophical
11 GNU}{http://www.gnu.org/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html}
15 \elink{What to do if you see a possible GPL
16 violation}{http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl-violation.html}
18 \elink{Translations of the
19 GPL}{http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/copyleft.html\#translations}
23 \subsection*{Table of Contents}
24 \index[general]{Table of Contents }
25 \index[general]{Contents!Table of }
26 \addcontentsline{toc}{subsection}{Table of Contents}
31 \ilink{GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE}{SEC1}
36 \ilink{Preamble}{SEC2}
39 \ilink{TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND
43 \ilink{How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs}{SEC4}
50 \ilink{GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE}{TOC1}}
52 \index[general]{GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE }
53 \index[general]{LICENSE!GNU GENERAL PUBLIC }
54 \addcontentsline{toc}{subsection}{GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE}
60 Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
61 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA
62 Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
63 of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
68 \ilink{Preamble}{TOC2}}
70 \index[general]{Preamble }
71 \addcontentsline{toc}{subsection}{Preamble}
73 The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to share
74 and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is intended to
75 guarantee your freedom to share and change free software\verb{--{to make sure the
76 software is free for all its users. This General Public License applies to
77 most of the Free Software Foundation's software and to any other program whose
78 authors commit to using it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is
79 covered by the GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it
80 to your programs, too.
82 When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our
83 General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to
84 distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish),
85 that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change
86 the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you
89 To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid anyone to
90 deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. These
91 restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute
92 copies of the software, or if you modify it.
94 For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or for
95 a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must
96 make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must
97 show them these terms so they know their rights.
99 We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and (2)
100 offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, distribute
101 and/or modify the software.
103 Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want to make certain that
104 everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free software. If the
105 software is modified by someone else and passed on, we want its recipients to
106 know that what they have is not the original, so that any problems introduced
107 by others will not reflect on the original authors' reputations.
109 Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software patents. We
110 wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free program will
111 individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the program proprietary.
112 To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for
113 everyone's free use or not licensed at all.
115 The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification
119 \ilink{TERMS AND CONDITIONS}{TOC3}}
121 \index[general]{CONDITIONS!TERMS AND }
122 \index[general]{TERMS AND CONDITIONS }
123 \addcontentsline{toc}{subsection}{TERMS AND CONDITIONS}
125 TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION
127 {\bf 0.} This License applies to any program or other work which contains a
128 notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed under the
129 terms of this General Public License. The ``Program'', below, refers to any
130 such program or work, and a ``work based on the Program'' means either the
131 Program or any derivative work under copyright law: that is to say, a work
132 containing the Program or a portion of it, either verbatim or with
133 modifications and/or translated into another language. (Hereinafter,
134 translation is included without limitation in the term ``modification''.) Each
135 licensee is addressed as ``you''.
137 Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not covered
138 by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of running the Program is
139 not restricted, and the output from the Program is covered only if its
140 contents constitute a work based on the Program (independent of having been
141 made by running the Program). Whether that is true depends on what the Program
144 {\bf 1.} You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's source
145 code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and
146 appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice and
147 disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this License
148 and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients of the
149 Program a copy of this License along with the Program.
151 You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and you may
152 at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.
154 {\bf 2.} You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of
155 it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and distribute such
156 modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above, provided that you
157 also meet all of these conditions:
160 \item {\bf a)} You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
161 stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.
163 \item {\bf b)} You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that
164 in whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part
165 thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties under
166 the terms of this License.
168 \item {\bf c)} If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
169 when run, you must cause it, when started running for such interactive use in
170 the most ordinary way, to print or display an announcement including an
171 appropriate copyright notice and a notice that there is no warranty (or else,
172 saying that you provide a warranty) and that users may redistribute the
173 program under these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of
174 this License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but does not
175 normally print such an announcement, your work based on the Program is not
176 required to print an announcement.)
179 These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If identifiable
180 sections of that work are not derived from the Program, and can be reasonably
181 considered independent and separate works in themselves, then this License,
182 and its terms, do not apply to those sections when you distribute them as
183 separate works. But when you distribute the same sections as part of a whole
184 which is a work based on the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on
185 the terms of this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the
186 entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it.
188 Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest your
189 rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to exercise the
190 right to control the distribution of derivative or collective works based on
193 In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program with
194 the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of a storage or
195 distribution medium does not bring the other work under the scope of this
198 {\bf 3.} You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under
199 Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and
200 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
203 \item {\bf a)} Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
204 source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2
205 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
207 \item {\bf b)} Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
208 years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of
209 physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of
210 the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections
211 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
213 \item {\bf c)} Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer
214 to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only
215 for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in object
216 code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with Subsection b
220 The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for making
221 modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source code means all
222 the source code for all modules it contains, plus any associated interface
223 definition files, plus the scripts used to control compilation and
224 installation of the executable. However, as a special exception, the source
225 code distributed need not include anything that is normally distributed (in
226 either source or binary form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and
227 so on) of the operating system on which the executable runs, unless that
228 component itself accompanies the executable.
230 If distribution of executable or object code is made by offering access to
231 copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent access to copy the
232 source code from the same place counts as distribution of the source code,
233 even though third parties are not compelled to copy the source along with the
236 {\bf 4.} You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
237 except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to
238 copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will
239 automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who
240 have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have
241 their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance.
243 {\bf 5.} You are not required to accept this License, since you have not
244 signed it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or distribute
245 the Program or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by law if
246 you do not accept this License. Therefore, by modifying or distributing the
247 Program (or any work based on the Program), you indicate your acceptance of
248 this License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for copying,
249 distributing or modifying the Program or works based on it.
251 {\bf 6.} Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the
252 Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original
253 licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and
254 conditions. You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients'
255 exercise of the rights granted herein. You are not responsible for enforcing
256 compliance by third parties to this License.
258 {\bf 7.} If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent
259 infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),
260 conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or otherwise)
261 that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from
262 the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy
263 simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent
264 obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all.
265 For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution
266 of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through
267 you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to
268 refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.
270 If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under any
271 particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to apply and
272 the section as a whole is intended to apply in other circumstances.
274 It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any patents or
275 other property right claims or to contest validity of any such claims; this
276 section has the sole purpose of protecting the integrity of the free software
277 distribution system, which is implemented by public license practices. Many
278 people have made generous contributions to the wide range of software
279 distributed through that system in reliance on consistent application of that
280 system; it is up to the author/donor to decide if he or she is willing to
281 distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot impose that
284 This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to be a
285 consequence of the rest of this License.
287 {\bf 8.} If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in
288 certain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the original
289 copyright holder who places the Program under this License may add an explicit
290 geographical distribution limitation excluding those countries, so that
291 distribution is permitted only in or among countries not thus excluded. In
292 such case, this License incorporates the limitation as if written in the body
295 {\bf 9.} The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions
296 of the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will be
297 similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address
298 new problems or concerns.
300 Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
301 specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and ``any later
302 version'', you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of
303 that version or of any later version published by the Free Software
304 Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of this License,
305 you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software Foundation.
307 {\bf 10.} If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free
308 programs whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author to
309 ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free Software
310 Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we sometimes make
311 exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the two goals of
312 preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free software and of
313 promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally.
317 {\bf 11.} BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
318 FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN
319 OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE
320 THE PROGRAM ``AS IS'' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR
321 IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
322 MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO
323 THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM
324 PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR
327 {\bf 12.} IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN
328 WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
329 REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES,
330 INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
331 OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
332 LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR
333 THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS),
334 EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
337 END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
340 \ilink{How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs}{TOC4}}
342 \index[general]{Programs!How to Apply These Terms to Your New }
343 \index[general]{How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs }
344 \addcontentsline{toc}{subsection}{How to Apply These Terms to Your New
347 If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest possible
348 use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it free software
349 which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.
351 To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest to attach
352 them to the start of each source file to most effectively convey the exclusion
353 of warranty; and each file should have at least the ``copyright'' line and a
354 pointer to where the full notice is found.
358 {\it one line to give the program's name and an idea of what it does.}
359 Copyright (C) {\it yyyy} {\it name of author}
360 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
361 modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
362 as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
363 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
364 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
365 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
366 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
367 GNU General Public License for more details.
368 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
369 along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
370 Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
374 Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.
376 If the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this when it
377 starts in an interactive mode:
381 Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) {\it year} {\it name of author}
382 Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
383 type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome
384 to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c'
389 The hypothetical commands {\tt `show w'} and {\tt `show c'} should show the
390 appropriate parts of the General Public License. Of course, the commands you
391 use may be called something other than {\tt `show w'} and {\tt `show c'}; they
392 could even be mouse-clicks or menu items\verb{--{whatever suits your program.
394 You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your
395 school, if any, to sign a ``copyright disclaimer'' for the program, if
396 necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:
400 Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright
401 interest in the program `Gnomovision'
402 (which makes passes at compilers) written
404 {\it signature of Ty Coon}, 1 April 1989
405 Ty Coon, President of Vice
409 This General Public License does not permit incorporating your program into
410 proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may
411 consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the
412 library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Library General Public
413 License instead of this License.
415 \elink{GNU's home page}{http://www.gnu.org/home.html}.
417 FSF \& GNU inquiries \& questions to
418 \elink{gnu@gnu.org}{mailto:gnu@gnu.org}. Other
419 \elink{ways to contact}{http://www.gnu.org/home.html\#ContactInfo} the FSF.
421 Comments on these web pages to
422 \elink{webmasters@www.gnu.org}{mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org}, send other
424 \elink{gnu@gnu.org}{mailto:gnu@gnu.org}.
426 Copyright notice above.
427 Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111,
430 Updated: 3 Jan 2000 rms