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What is Free and Open Source Software?
At its core, Free and Open Source is centered around four linked freedoms:
The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.
The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.[1]
“Copyleft” (e.g., the GNU General Public License (GPL) which you may have heard of) can be used to protect these freedoms from enclosure in derivative versions.