Z:gnu-www-ja-rieti--e96bfe-Free software is the contrast/en

Free software is the contrast to this. Free software means that you have four essential freedoms. Freedom zero is the freedom to run the program for any purpose, in any way that you want to. Freedom one is the freedom to help yourself by studying the source code to see what the program does and then changing it to suit your needs. Freedom two is the freedom to help you neighbor by distributing copies to others. And freedom three is the freedom to help build your community by publishing an improved version so others can use your version instead, so others can get the benefit of your help. With these freedoms, the users control the software they use. If these freedoms are lacking, then the [software] owner controls the software and controls the users.