free-sw.html version 1.77

date: 2008-12-19 15:25:03 +0000;  author: brett;  state: Exp;  lines: +7 -3;  commitid: fgykAtaJFwsoE5vt;
Clarify that all retroactive license changes are bad.  Approved by RMS.

This was inspired by a suggestion by Michael Fötsch; thanks.


Index: free-sw.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /web/www/www/philosophy/free-sw.html,v
retrieving revision 1.76
retrieving revision 1.77
diff -U 2 -r1.76 -r1.77
--
++ free-sw.html	10	19 Dec 2008 20:42:41 15:25:03 -0000	1.76	1.77
@@ -104,6 +104,5 @@
In order for these freedoms to be real, they must be irrevocable as
long as you do nothing wrong; if the developer of the software has the
power to revoke the license, or replace it with a different license
(since this implies revoking the old license), retroactively change its terms,
without your doing anything wrong to give cause, the software is not
free.
@@ -287,4 +286,9 @@
<ul>

<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.76&r2=1.77">Version
1.77</a>: Clarify that all retroactive changes to the license are
unacceptable, even if it's not described as a complete
replacement.</li>

<li><a href="http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/www/philosophy/free-sw.html?root=www&r1=1.73&r2=1.74">Version
1.74</a>: Four clarifications of points not explicit enough, or stated
@@ -381,5 +385,5 @@
Updated:
<!-- timestamp start -->
$Date: 2026/01/28 17:24:09 $
<!-- timestamp end -->
</p>