While many people would still consider this term to mean any "free of cost", or "free as in free beer" software, in the truly *free* software world this terms represents software that comes with the freedoms to use, copy, study, modify and redistribute both modified and unmodified copies of software programs. We usually say "free as in freedom" to emphasize what it is all about.
n contrast to proprietary software, free software can be altered, re-distributed or even re-sold, by anyone. The free software movement (www.fsf.org) is as much a political movement as it is a software movement. Advocates of free software believe all software - and information - has a right to be free. That is free as in freedom and not just free as in no-cost. Source code of free software applications is accessible to all.
As defined by Richard M. Stallman and used by the Free Software Movement, this means software that gives users enough freedom to be used by the free software community. Specifically, users must be free to modify the software for their private use, and free to redistribute it either with or without modifications, either commercially or noncommercially, either gratis or charging a [nominal] distribution fee. Free software has existed since the dawn of computing.
Free software, as defined by Richard Stallman and his Free Software Foundation, can be used, copied, studied, modified and redistributed. It is usually available online without charge or offline for the marginal cost of distribution; however, availability at no charge is not part of the definition.
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