From: Björn Stenberg <bjorn_at_haxx.se>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 15:56:02 +0100

Michael Hentschel wrote:
> What exactly would be the difference between free and gratis?
> Doesn't both mean that you can legally download/use it without paying?

Quoting www.gnu.org:

"Free" is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you
should think of "free" as in "free speech," not as in "free beer."

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute,
study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four
kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

 - The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).

 - The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs
   (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

 - The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom
   2).

 - The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the
   public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the
   source code is a precondition for this.

Read more here: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

-- 
Björn

Received on 2004-01-09