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Free License

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Free License

A free license or open license is a type of license that enables copyrighted work to be reused, modified, and redistributed. These actions are generally restricted by copyright, patent, or other intellectual property laws. The concept of a free license spans across free content licenses and open-source licenses, which are integral to the realms of free software and open-source software.

Historical Context

The notion of a "free license" emerged alongside the traditions of the hacker culture from the 1970s, where software was often shared freely in the public domain. The idea gained momentum with the free software movement in the 1980s and was further propelled by the open-source movement in the 1990s. These movements emphasized the rights of users to use, modify, and share software and other creative works.

Codification of Rights

The principles of free licenses have been formalized by various groups and organizations through different definitions which include:

These definitions served as a foundation for creating specific licenses that utilize copyright law as their legal mechanism.

Types of Free Licenses

Free licenses can be categorized into several types based on the extent and nature of freedoms they provide:

  • Free-Software Licenses: These allow extensive rights to modify and redistribute software. Examples include the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft license ensuring end users' freedoms.

  • Permissive Software Licenses: Examples include the BSD licenses and the Apache License, which are characterized by minimal restrictions on how software can be used and redistributed.

  • Copyleft Licenses: Ensure that derivative works are also distributed under the same license terms. The GNU Free Documentation License is an example designed by the Free Software Foundation.

Impact on Software and Culture

Free licenses have profoundly impacted the way software is developed and distributed, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. They have not only influenced software but have also extended into other areas such as creative commons licenses for creative works.

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