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4 <TITLE>GNU General Public License - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)</TITLE>
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9 <H1>GNU General Public License</H1>
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14 <A HREF="/philosophy/gif.html">no gifs due to patent problems</A>
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20 <P>
22 <H2>Table of Contents</H2>
23 <UL>
24 <LI><A NAME="TOC1" HREF="gpl.html#SEC1">GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE</A>
25 <UL>
26 <LI><A NAME="TOC2" HREF="gpl.html#SEC2">Preamble</A>
27 <LI><A NAME="TOC3" HREF="gpl.html#SEC3">TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION</A>
28 <LI><A NAME="TOC4" HREF="gpl.html#SEC4">How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs</A>
30 </UL>
31 </UL>
33 <P>
35 <HR>
37 <P>
41 <H2><A NAME="SEC1" HREF="gpl.html#TOC1">GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE</A></H2>
42 <P>
43 Version 2, June 1991
45 </P>
47 <PRE>
48 Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
49 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA
51 Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
52 of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
53 </PRE>
57 <H2><A NAME="SEC2" HREF="gpl.html#TOC2">Preamble</A></H2>
59 <P>
60 The licenses for most software are designed to take away your
61 freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public
62 License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free
63 software--to make sure the software is free for all its users. This
64 General Public License applies to most of the Free Software
65 Foundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to
66 using it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is covered by
67 the GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it to
68 your programs, too.
70 </P>
71 <P>
72 When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
73 price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you
74 have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for
75 this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it
76 if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it
77 in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
79 </P>
80 <P>
81 To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid
82 anyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights.
83 These restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you
84 distribute copies of the software, or if you modify it.
86 </P>
87 <P>
88 For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
89 gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that
90 you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the
91 source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their
92 rights.
94 </P>
95 <P>
96 We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and
97 (2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy,
98 distribute and/or modify the software.
100 </P>
102 Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want to make certain
103 that everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free
104 software. If the software is modified by someone else and passed on, we
105 want its recipients to know that what they have is not the original, so
106 that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original
107 authors' reputations.
109 </P>
111 Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software
112 patents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free
113 program will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the
114 program proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any
115 patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.
117 </P>
119 The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and
120 modification follow.
122 </P>
125 <H2><A NAME="SEC3" HREF="gpl.html#TOC3">TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION</A></H2>
130 <STRONG>0.</STRONG>
131 This License applies to any program or other work which contains
132 a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed
133 under the terms of this General Public License. The "Program", below,
134 refers to any such program or work, and a "work based on the Program"
135 means either the Program or any derivative work under copyright law:
136 that is to say, a work containing the Program or a portion of it,
137 either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated into another
138 language. (Hereinafter, translation is included without limitation in
139 the term "modification".) Each licensee is addressed as "you".
142 Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
143 covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of
144 running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program
145 is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the
146 Program (independent of having been made by running the Program).
147 Whether that is true depends on what the Program does.
151 <STRONG>1.</STRONG>
152 You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's
153 source code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you
154 conspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate
155 copyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the
156 notices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty;
157 and give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License
158 along with the Program.
161 You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and
162 you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.
165 <STRONG>2.</STRONG>
166 You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion
167 of it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and
168 distribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1
169 above, provided that you also meet all of these conditions:
172 <UL>
174 <LI><STRONG>a)</STRONG>
175 You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
176 stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.
179 <LI><STRONG>b)</STRONG>
180 You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
181 whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any
182 part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
183 parties under the terms of this License.
186 <LI><STRONG>c)</STRONG>
187 If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
188 when run, you must cause it, when started running for such
189 interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an
190 announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a
191 notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide
192 a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under
193 these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this
194 License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but
195 does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on
196 the Program is not required to print an announcement.)
197 </UL>
199 These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If
200 identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program,
201 and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in
202 themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those
203 sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you
204 distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based
205 on the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of
206 this License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the
207 entire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it.
210 Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest
211 your rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to
212 exercise the right to control the distribution of derivative or
213 collective works based on the Program.
216 In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
217 with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of
218 a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under
219 the scope of this License.
223 <STRONG>3.</STRONG>
224 You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
225 under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
226 Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
229 <!-- we use this doubled UL to get the sub-sections indented, -->
230 <!-- while making the bullets as unobvious as possible. -->
231 <UL>
233 <LI><STRONG>a)</STRONG>
234 Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
235 source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections
236 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
239 <LI><STRONG>b)</STRONG>
240 Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
241 years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your
242 cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete
243 machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be
244 distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium
245 customarily used for software interchange; or,
248 <LI><STRONG>c)</STRONG>
249 Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer
250 to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is
251 allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you
252 received the program in object code or executable form with such
253 an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)
254 </UL>
256 The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
257 making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source
258 code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
259 associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to
260 control compilation and installation of the executable. However, as a
261 special exception, the source code distributed need not include
262 anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary
263 form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the
264 operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component
265 itself accompanies the executable.
268 If distribution of executable or object code is made by offering
269 access to copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent
270 access to copy the source code from the same place counts as
271 distribution of the source code, even though third parties are not
272 compelled to copy the source along with the object code.
275 <STRONG>4.</STRONG>
276 You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
277 except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt
278 otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is
279 void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License.
280 However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under
281 this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
282 parties remain in full compliance.
286 <STRONG>5.</STRONG>
287 You are not required to accept this License, since you have not
288 signed it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or
289 distribute the Program or its derivative works. These actions are
290 prohibited by law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by
291 modifying or distributing the Program (or any work based on the
292 Program), you indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and
293 all its terms and conditions for copying, distributing or modifying
294 the Program or works based on it.
298 <STRONG>6.</STRONG>
299 Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the
300 Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the
301 original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to
302 these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further
303 restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.
304 You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to
305 this License.
309 <STRONG>7.</STRONG>
310 If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent
311 infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),
312 conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or
313 otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not
314 excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot
315 distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this
316 License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you
317 may not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent
318 license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by
319 all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then
320 the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to
321 refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.
324 If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under
325 any particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to
326 apply and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other
327 circumstances.
330 It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any
331 patents or other property right claims or to contest validity of any
332 such claims; this section has the sole purpose of protecting the
333 integrity of the free software distribution system, which is
334 implemented by public license practices. Many people have made
335 generous contributions to the wide range of software distributed
336 through that system in reliance on consistent application of that
337 system; it is up to the author/donor to decide if he or she is willing
338 to distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot
339 impose that choice.
342 This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to
343 be a consequence of the rest of this License.
347 <STRONG>8.</STRONG>
348 If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in
349 certain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the
350 original copyright holder who places the Program under this License
351 may add an explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding
352 those countries, so that distribution is permitted only in or among
353 countries not thus excluded. In such case, this License incorporates
354 the limitation as if written in the body of this License.
358 <STRONG>9.</STRONG>
359 The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions
360 of the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will
361 be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to
362 address new problems or concerns.
365 Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
366 specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and "any
367 later version", you have the option of following the terms and conditions
368 either of that version or of any later version published by the Free
369 Software Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of
370 this License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software
371 Foundation.
376 <STRONG>10.</STRONG>
377 If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free
378 programs whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author
379 to ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free
380 Software Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we sometimes
381 make exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the two goals
382 of preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free software and
383 of promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally.
387 <P><STRONG>NO WARRANTY</STRONG></P>
391 <STRONG>11.</STRONG>
392 BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
393 FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN
394 OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES
395 PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED
396 OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
397 MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS
398 TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE
399 PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
400 REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
404 <STRONG>12.</STRONG>
405 IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
406 WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
407 REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES,
408 INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING
409 OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
410 TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY
411 YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER
412 PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
413 POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
418 <H2>END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS</H2>
422 <H2><A NAME="SEC4" HREF="gpl.html#TOC4">How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs</A></H2>
425 If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest
426 possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it
427 free software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.
429 </P>
431 To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest
432 to attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively
433 convey the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least
434 the "copyright" line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.
436 </P>
438 <PRE>
439 <VAR>one line to give the program's name and an idea of what it does.</VAR>
440 Copyright (C) <VAR>yyyy</VAR> <VAR>name of author</VAR>
442 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
443 modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
444 as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
445 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
447 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
448 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
449 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
450 GNU General Public License for more details.
452 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
453 along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
454 Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
455 </PRE>
458 Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.
460 </P>
462 If the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this
463 when it starts in an interactive mode:
465 </P>
467 <PRE>
468 Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) <VAR>yyyy</VAR> <VAR>name of author</VAR>
469 Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
470 type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome
471 to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c'
472 for details.
473 </PRE>
476 The hypothetical commands <SAMP>`show w'</SAMP> and <SAMP>`show c'</SAMP> should show
477 the appropriate parts of the General Public License. Of course, the
478 commands you use may be called something other than <SAMP>`show w'</SAMP> and
479 <SAMP>`show c'</SAMP>; they could even be mouse-clicks or menu items--whatever
480 suits your program.
482 </P>
484 You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your
485 school, if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if
486 necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:
488 </P>
490 <PRE>
491 Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright
492 interest in the program `Gnomovision'
493 (which makes passes at compilers) written
494 by James Hacker.
496 <VAR>signature of Ty Coon</VAR>, 1 April 1989
497 Ty Coon, President of Vice
498 </PRE>
501 This General Public License does not permit incorporating your program into
502 proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may
503 consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the
504 library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Library General
505 Public License instead of this License.
507 <HR>
509 Return to <A HREF="/home.html">GNU's home page</A>.
511 FSF &amp; GNU inquiries &amp; questions to
512 <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
513 Other <A HREF="/home.html#ContactInfo">ways to contact</A> the FSF.
515 Comments on these web pages to
516 <A HREF="mailto:webmasters@www.gnu.org"><EM>webmasters@www.gnu.org</EM></A>,
517 send other questions to
518 <A HREF="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><EM>gnu@gnu.org</EM></A>.
520 Copyright notice above.<BR>
521 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
522 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111, USA
524 Updated:
525 <!-- hhmts start -->
526 16 Feb 1998 tower
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