1*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 2*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel 3*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use 4*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work". 5*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software 6*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux 7*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it. 8*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 9*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel 10*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not 11*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated. 12*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 13*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Linus Torvalds 14*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 15*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds---------------------------------------- 16*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 17*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE 18*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Version 2, June 1991 19*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 20*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 21*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA 22*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies 23*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds of this license document, but changing it is not allowed. 24*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 25*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Preamble 26*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 27*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds The licenses for most software are designed to take away your 28*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsfreedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public 29*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsLicense is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free 30*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssoftware--to make sure the software is free for all its users. This 31*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsGeneral Public License applies to most of the Free Software 32*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsFoundation's software and to any other program whose authors commit to 33*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsusing it. (Some other Free Software Foundation software is covered by 34*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe GNU Library General Public License instead.) You can apply it to 35*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsyour programs, too. 36*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 37*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not 38*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsprice. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you 39*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldshave the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for 40*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthis service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it 41*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsif you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it 42*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsin new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. 43*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 44*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid 45*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsanyone to deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. 46*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThese restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you 47*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute copies of the software, or if you modify it. 48*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 49*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether 50*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsgratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that 51*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsyou have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the 52*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssource code. And you must show them these terms so they know their 53*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsrights. 54*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 55*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and 56*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds(2) offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, 57*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute and/or modify the software. 58*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 59*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Also, for each author's protection and ours, we want to make certain 60*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthat everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free 61*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssoftware. If the software is modified by someone else and passed on, we 62*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldswant its recipients to know that what they have is not the original, so 63*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthat any problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original 64*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsauthors' reputations. 65*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 66*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software 67*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldspatents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free 68*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsprogram will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the 69*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsprogram proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any 70*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldspatent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all. 71*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 72*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and 73*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmodification follow. 74*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 75*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE 76*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION 77*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 78*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 0. This License applies to any program or other work which contains 79*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsa notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed 80*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsunder the terms of this General Public License. The "Program", below, 81*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsrefers to any such program or work, and a "work based on the Program" 82*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmeans either the Program or any derivative work under copyright law: 83*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthat is to say, a work containing the Program or a portion of it, 84*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldseither verbatim or with modifications and/or translated into another 85*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldslanguage. (Hereinafter, translation is included without limitation in 86*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe term "modification".) Each licensee is addressed as "you". 87*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 88*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsActivities other than copying, distribution and modification are not 89*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscovered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of 90*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsrunning the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program 91*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsis covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the 92*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsProgram (independent of having been made by running the Program). 93*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsWhether that is true depends on what the Program does. 94*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 95*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's 96*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssource code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you 97*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsconspicuously and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate 98*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscopyright notice and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the 99*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsnotices that refer to this License and to the absence of any warranty; 100*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsand give any other recipients of the Program a copy of this License 101*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsalong with the Program. 102*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 103*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsYou may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and 104*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsyou may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee. 105*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 106*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion 107*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsof it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and 108*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 109*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsabove, provided that you also meet all of these conditions: 110*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 111*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds a) You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices 112*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds stating that you changed the files and the date of any change. 113*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 114*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in 115*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any 116*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third 117*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds parties under the terms of this License. 118*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 119*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds c) If the modified program normally reads commands interactively 120*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds when run, you must cause it, when started running for such 121*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an 122*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a 123*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide 124*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under 125*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this 126*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but 127*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on 128*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds the Program is not required to print an announcement.) 129*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 130*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThese requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If 131*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsidentifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program, 132*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsand can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in 133*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthemselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those 134*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you 135*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based 136*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldson the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of 137*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthis License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the 138*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsentire whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it. 139*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 140*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest 141*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsyour rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to 142*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsexercise the right to control the distribution of derivative or 143*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscollective works based on the Program. 144*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 145*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsIn addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program 146*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldswith the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of 147*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsa storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under 148*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe scope of this License. 149*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 150*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, 151*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsunder Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of 152*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsSections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following: 153*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 154*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable 155*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 156*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, 157*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 158*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three 159*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your 160*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete 161*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be 162*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium 163*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds customarily used for software interchange; or, 164*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 165*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer 166*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is 167*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you 168*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds received the program in object code or executable form with such 169*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.) 170*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 171*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThe source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for 172*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmaking modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source 173*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscode means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any 174*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsassociated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to 175*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscontrol compilation and installation of the executable. However, as a 176*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsspecial exception, the source code distributed need not include 177*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsanything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary 178*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsform) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the 179*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsoperating system on which the executable runs, unless that component 180*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsitself accompanies the executable. 181*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 182*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsIf distribution of executable or object code is made by offering 183*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsaccess to copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent 184*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsaccess to copy the source code from the same place counts as 185*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribution of the source code, even though third parties are not 186*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscompelled to copy the source along with the object code. 187*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 188*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program 189*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsexcept as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt 190*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsotherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is 191*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsvoid, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. 192*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsHowever, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under 193*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthis License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such 194*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsparties remain in full compliance. 195*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 196*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 5. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not 197*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssigned it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or 198*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute the Program or its derivative works. These actions are 199*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsprohibited by law if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by 200*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmodifying or distributing the Program (or any work based on the 201*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsProgram), you indicate your acceptance of this License to do so, and 202*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsall its terms and conditions for copying, distributing or modifying 203*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe Program or works based on it. 204*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 205*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the 206*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsProgram), the recipient automatically receives a license from the 207*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsoriginal licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to 208*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthese terms and conditions. You may not impose any further 209*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsrestrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. 210*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsYou are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to 211*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthis License. 212*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 213*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 7. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent 214*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsinfringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), 215*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsconditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or 216*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsotherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not 217*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsexcuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot 218*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsdistribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this 219*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsLicense and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you 220*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmay not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent 221*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldslicense would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by 222*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsall those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then 223*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to 224*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsrefrain entirely from distribution of the Program. 225*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 226*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsIf any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under 227*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsany particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to 228*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsapply and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other 229*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscircumstances. 230*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 231*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsIt is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any 232*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldspatents or other property right claims or to contest validity of any 233*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssuch claims; this section has the sole purpose of protecting the 234*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsintegrity of the free software distribution system, which is 235*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsimplemented by public license practices. Many people have made 236*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsgenerous contributions to the wide range of software distributed 237*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthrough that system in reliance on consistent application of that 238*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldssystem; it is up to the author/donor to decide if he or she is willing 239*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsto distribute software through any other system and a licensee cannot 240*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsimpose that choice. 241*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 242*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThis section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to 243*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsbe a consequence of the rest of this License. 244*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 245*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 8. If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in 246*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscertain countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the 247*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsoriginal copyright holder who places the Program under this License 248*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmay add an explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding 249*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthose countries, so that distribution is permitted only in or among 250*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldscountries not thus excluded. In such case, this License incorporates 251*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe limitation as if written in the body of this License. 252*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 253*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 9. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions 254*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsof the General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will 255*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsbe similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to 256*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsaddress new problems or concerns. 257*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 258*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsEach version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program 259*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsspecifies a version number of this License which applies to it and "any 260*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldslater version", you have the option of following the terms and conditions 261*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldseither of that version or of any later version published by the Free 262*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsSoftware Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of 263*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthis License, you may choose any version ever published by the Free Software 264*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsFoundation. 265*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 266*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 10. If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free 267*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsprograms whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author 268*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsto ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free 269*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsSoftware Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we sometimes 270*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmake exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the two goals 271*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsof preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free software and 272*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsof promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally. 273*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 274*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds NO WARRANTY 275*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 276*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 11. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY 277*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsFOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN 278*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsOTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES 279*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsPROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED 280*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsOR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF 281*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsMERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS 282*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsTO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE 283*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsPROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, 284*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsREPAIR OR CORRECTION. 285*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 286*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 12. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING 287*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsWILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR 288*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsREDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, 289*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsINCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING 290*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsOUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED 291*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsTO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY 292*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsYOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER 293*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsPROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE 294*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsPOSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 295*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 296*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS 297*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 298*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs 299*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 300*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest 301*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldspossible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it 302*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsfree software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms. 303*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 304*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest 305*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsto attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively 306*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsconvey the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least 307*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsthe "copyright" line and a pointer to where the full notice is found. 308*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 309*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds <one line to give the program's name and a brief idea of what it does.> 310*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Copyright (C) <year> <name of author> 311*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 312*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify 313*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by 314*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or 315*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds (at your option) any later version. 316*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 317*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, 318*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of 319*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the 320*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds GNU General Public License for more details. 321*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 322*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License 323*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software 324*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA 325*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 326*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 327*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsAlso add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail. 328*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 329*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsIf the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this 330*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldswhen it starts in an interactive mode: 331*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 332*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) year name of author 333*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `show w'. 334*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it 335*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds under certain conditions; type `show c' for details. 336*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 337*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThe hypothetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show the appropriate 338*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsparts of the General Public License. Of course, the commands you use may 339*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsbe called something other than `show w' and `show c'; they could even be 340*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsmouse-clicks or menu items--whatever suits your program. 341*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 342*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsYou should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or your 343*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsschool, if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if 344*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsnecessary. Here is a sample; alter the names: 345*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 346*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the program 347*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds `Gnomovision' (which makes passes at compilers) written by James Hacker. 348*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 349*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds <signature of Ty Coon>, 1 April 1989 350*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds Ty Coon, President of Vice 351*1da177e4SLinus Torvalds 352*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsThis General Public License does not permit incorporating your program into 353*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsproprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you may 354*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldsconsider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with the 355*1da177e4SLinus Torvaldslibrary. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Library General 356*1da177e4SLinus TorvaldsPublic License instead of this License. 357