share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public L
share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public L
share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public L
share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public Licenses are
icenses are
icenses are
icenses are
intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software
intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software
intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software
intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--
--
--
--to
to
to
to
make sure the soft
make sure the soft
make sure the soft
make sure the software is free for all its users.
ware is free for all its users.
ware is free for all its users.
ware is free for all its users.
This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to some specially
This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to some specially
This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to some specially
This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to some specially
designated software packages
designated software packages
designated software packages
designated software packages--
--
--
--typically libra
typically libra
typically libra
typically libraries
ries
ries
ries--
--
--
--of the Free Software
of the Free Software
of the Free Software
of the Free Software
Foundation and other authors who decide to use it. You can use it too, but
Foundation and other authors who decide to use it. You can use it too, but
Foundation and other authors who decide to use it. You can use it too, but
Foundation and other authors who decide to use it. You can use it too, but
we suggest you first think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary
we suggest you first think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary
we suggest you first think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary
we suggest you first think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary
General Public License is the better strategy to use in any particular cas
General Public License is the better strategy to use in any particular cas
General Public License is the better strategy to use in any particular cas
General Public License is the better strategy to use in any particular case,
e,
e,
e,
b
b
b
based on the explanations below.
ased on the explanations below.
ased on the explanations below.
ased on the explanations below.
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of use, not
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of use, not
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of use, not
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of use, not
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have
price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have
the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this s
the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this s
the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this s
the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service
ervice
ervice
ervice
if you wish); that you receive source code or can get it if you want it; that
if you wish); that you receive source code or can get it if you want it; that
if you wish); that you receive source code or can get it if you want it; that
if you wish); that you receive source code or can get it if you want it; that
you can change the software and use pieces of it in new free programs; and
you can change the software and use pieces of it in new free programs; and
you can change the software and use pieces of it in new free programs; and
you can change the software and use pieces of it in new free programs; and
that you are informed that you can do these things.
that you are informed that you can do these things.
that you are informed that you can do these things.
that you are informed that you can do these things.
To protect your rights, we need to make res
To protect your rights, we need to make res
To protect your rights, we need to make res
To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid distributors to
trictions that forbid distributors to
trictions that forbid distributors to
trictions that forbid distributors to
deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender these rights. These
deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender these rights. These
deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender these rights. These
deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender these rights. These
restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies
restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies
restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies
restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute copies
of t
of t
of t
of the library or if you modify it.
he library or if you modify it.
he library or if you modify it.
he library or if you modify it.
For example, if you distribu
For example, if you distribu
For example, if you distribu
For example, if you distribute copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee,
te copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee,
te copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee,
te copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee,
you must give the recipients all the rights that we gave you. You must make
you must give the recipients all the rights that we gave you. You must make
you must give the recipients all the rights that we gave you. You must make
you must give the recipients all the rights that we gave you. You must make
sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. If you link other code
sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. If you link other code
sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. If you link other code
sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. If you link other code
with the library, you must provide complete o
with the library, you must provide complete o
with the library, you must provide complete o
with the library, you must provide complete object files to the recipients, so
bject files to the recipients, so
bject files to the recipients, so
bject files to the recipients, so
that they can relink them with the library after making changes to the library
that they can relink them with the library after making changes to the library
that they can relink them with the library after making changes to the library
that they can relink them with the library after making changes to the library
and recompiling it. And you must show them these t
and recompiling it. And you must show them these t
and recompiling it. And you must show them these t
and recompiling it. And you must show them these terms so they know their
erms so they know their
erms so they know their
erms so they know their
rights.
rights.
rights.
rights.
We protect your rights with a two
We protect your rights with a two
We protect your rights with a two
We protect your rights with a two-
-
-
-step method: (1) we copyri
step method: (1) we copyri
step method: (1) we copyri
step method: (1) we copyright the library,
ght the library,
ght the library,
ght the library,
and (2) we offer you this license, which gives you legal permission to copy,
and (2) we offer you this license, which gives you legal permission to copy,
and (2) we offer you this license, which gives you legal permission to copy,
and (2) we offer you this license, which gives you legal permission to copy,
distribute and/or modify the library.
distribute and/or modify the library.
distribute and/or modify the library.
distribute and/or modify the library.
To protect each distributor, we want to make it very clear that there is no
To protect each distributor, we want to make it very clear that there is no
To protect each distributor, we want to make it very clear that there is no
To protect each distributor, we want to make it very clear that there is no
warranty for the free library. Also, if the lib
warranty for the free library. Also, if the lib
warranty for the free library. Also, if the lib
warranty for the free library. Also, if the library is modified by someone else
rary is modified by someone else
rary is modified by someone else
rary is modified by someone else
and passed on, the recipients should know that what they have is not the
and passed on, the recipients should know that what they have is not the
and passed on, the recipients should know that what they have is not the
and passed on, the recipients should know that what they have is not the
original version, so that the original author's reputation will not be affected
original version, so that the original author's reputation will not be affected
original version, so that the original author's reputation will not be affected
original version, so that the original author's reputation will not be affected
by problems that
by problems that
by problems that
by problems that might be introduced by others.
might be introduced by others.
might be introduced by others.
might be introduced by others.
Finally, software pat
Finally, software pat
Finally, software pat
Finally, software patents pose a constant threat to the existence of any free
ents pose a constant threat to the existence of any free
ents pose a constant threat to the existence of any free
ents pose a constant threat to the existence of any free
program. We wish to make sure that a company cannot effectively restrict
program. We wish to make sure that a company cannot effectively restrict
program. We wish to make sure that a company cannot effectively restrict
program. We wish to make sure that a company cannot effectively restrict
the users of a free program by obtaining a restrictive license from a patent
the users of a free program by obtaining a restrictive license from a patent
the users of a free program by obtaining a restrictive license from a patent
the users of a free program by obtaining a restrictive license from a patent
holder. Therefore, we insist that any patent lice
holder. Therefore, we insist that any patent lice
holder. Therefore, we insist that any patent lice
holder. Therefore, we insist that any patent license obtained for a version of
nse obtained for a version of
nse obtained for a version of
nse obtained for a version of
the library must be consistent with the full freedom of
the library must be consistent with the full freedom of
the library must be consistent with the full freedom of
the library must be consistent with the full freedom of use specified in this
use specified in this
use specified in this
use specified in this
license.
license.
license.
license.
Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary GNU
Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary GNU
Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary GNU
Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary GNU
General Public License. This license, the GNU Lesser General P
General Public License. This license, the GNU Lesser General P
General Public License. This license, the GNU Lesser General P
General Public License. This license, the GNU Lesser General Public License,
ublic License,
ublic License,
ublic License,
applies to certain designated libraries, and is quite different from the
applies to certain designated libraries, and is quite different from the
applies to certain designated libraries, and is quite different from the
applies to certain designated libraries, and is quite different from the
ordinary General Public License. We use this license for certain libraries in
ordinary General Public License. We use this license for certain libraries in
ordinary General Public License. We use this license for certain libraries in
ordinary General Public License. We use this license for certain libraries in
order to permit linking those li
order to permit linking those li
order to permit linking those li
order to permit linking those libraries into non
braries into non
braries into non
braries into non-
-
-
-free programs.
free programs.
free programs.
free programs.
When a program is linked w
When a program is linked w
When a program is linked w
When a program is linked with a library, whether statically or using a shared
ith a library, whether statically or using a shared
ith a library, whether statically or using a shared
ith a library, whether statically or using a shared
library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a combined work, a
library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a combined work, a
library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a combined work, a
library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a combined work, a
derivative of the original library. The ordinary General Public License
derivative of the original library. The ordinary General Public License
derivative of the original library. The ordinary General Public License
derivative of the original library. The ordinary General Public License
therefore permits such linking only if the entire combina
therefore permits such linking only if the entire combina
therefore permits such linking only if the entire combina
therefore permits such linking only if the entire combination fits its criteria of
tion fits its criteria of
tion fits its criteria of
tion fits its criteria of
freedom. The Lesser General Public License permits more lax criteria for
freedom. The Lesser General Public License permits more lax criteria for
freedom. The Lesser General Public License permits more lax criteria for
freedom. The Lesser General Public License permits more lax criteria for
linki
linki
linki
linking other code with the library.
ng other code with the library.
ng other code with the library.
ng other code with the library.
We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License because it does Less
We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License because it does Less
We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License because it does Less
We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License because it does Less
to protect the user's freedom than the ord
to protect the user's freedom than the ord
to protect the user's freedom than the ord
to protect the user's freedom than the ordinary General Public License. It
inary General Public License. It
inary General Public License. It
inary General Public License. It
also provides other free software developers Less of an advantage over
also provides other free software developers Less of an advantage over
also provides other free software developers Less of an advantage over
also provides other free software developers Less of an advantage over
competing non
competing non
competing non
competing non-
-
-
-free programs. These disadvantages are the reason we use
free programs. These disadvantages are the reason we use
free programs. These disadvantages are the reason we use
free programs. These disadvantages are the reason we use
the ordinary General Public License for many libraries. However, the Lesser
the ordinary General Public License for many libraries. However, the Lesser
the ordinary General Public License for many libraries. However, the Lesser
the ordinary General Public License for many libraries. However, the Lesser
licen
licen
licen
license provides advantages in
se provides advantages in
se provides advantages in
se provides advantages in certain special circumstances.
certain special circumstances.
certain special circumstances.
certain special circumstances.
For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to encourage
For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to encourage
For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to encourage
For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to encourage
the widest possible use of a certain library, so that it becomes a de
the widest possible use of a certain library, so that it becomes a de
the widest possible use of a certain library, so that it becomes a de
the widest possible use of a certain library, so that it becomes a de-
-
-
-facto
facto
facto
facto
standard. To achieve this, non
standard. To achieve this, non
standard. To achieve this, non
standard. To achieve this, non-
-
-
-free programs must
free programs must
free programs must
free programs must be allowed to use the
be allowed to use the
be allowed to use the
be allowed to use the
library. A more frequent case is that a free library does the same job as
library. A more frequent case is that a free library does the same job as
library. A more frequent case is that a free library does the same job as
library. A more frequent case is that a free library does the same job as
widely used non
widely used non
widely used non
widely used non-
-
-
-free libraries. In this case, there is little to gain by limiting
free libraries. In this case, there is little to gain by limiting
free libraries. In this case, there is little to gain by limiting
free libraries. In this case, there is little to gain by limiting
the free library to free software only, so we use the Lesser General Pub
the free library to free software only, so we use the Lesser General Pub
the free library to free software only, so we use the Lesser General Pub
the free library to free software only, so we use the Lesser General Public
lic
lic
lic
L
L
L
License.
icense.
icense.
icense.
In other cases, permission to use a particular library in non
In other cases, permission to use a particular library in non
In other cases, permission to use a particular library in non
In other cases, permission to use a particular library in non-
-
-
-free programs
free programs
free programs
free programs
