Ubuntu is a collection of many computer programs and documents created by thousands of individuals, teams, and companies. Each of these works might come under a different license. Our License Policy describes the process that we follow in determining which software we will ship and by default include on the Ubuntu Install CD. Note The latest version of the License Policy can be found at: www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/licensing The Ubuntu team is committed to free and Open Source software. The exact details of what that means can lead people into a very long debate indeed, often ending up with both sides in violent agreement. The short answer is that it is our absolute conviction that the world is a better (more efficient, more supportable, safer, more interesting, more compassionate, fairerthere are lots of ways to define it) place if you have the source code to all the software on your computer and the right to use that source code in constructive ways. We believe that this is important even if you are not a software developer, because someone else in your family who uses your computer might find that they have that interest and talent, and because you could hire someone to exercise those rights on your behalf. We really do believe that this is the central idea that will drive innovation and development in the software industry for the next 20 yearsright up until the computers take over, and who knows, maybe they will feel the same way. And we hope to be one of many teams that sticks around sustainably, making a living working in that new world. We would invite you to read more about our Free Software Philosophy and help to shape this policy further. The Ubuntu Free Software Philosophy really only addresses the software that you will find in main and restricted. Those components contain software that is fully supported by the Ubuntu team and must comply with this policy. In the universe component you will find just about every other piece of software you can imagine, under a huge variety of licensesreally the full software universe. If you install software from universe please take the time to check the license for yourself. There are many definitions of free and free software so we have included our own set of guidelines listed below. To comply with the Ubuntu Main Component License Policy, all application software included in the Ubuntu main component:
Ubuntu "Main" and "Restricted" Component License PolicyAll application software in both main and restricted must:
Documentation, Firmware, and DriversUbuntu contains licensed and copyrighted works that are not application software. For example, the default Ubuntu installation includes documentation, images, sounds, video clips, and firmware. The Ubuntu community will make decisions on the inclusion of these works on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that these works do not restrict our ability to make Ubuntu available free of charge, and that Ubuntu remains redistributable by you. The Ubuntu team recognizes that many users have vital hardware in their computer that requires drivers that are currently only available in binary format. We urge all hardware vendors to insist that their suppliers provide Open Source drivers for their components, but we recognize that in some cases binary drivers are the only way to make your hardware work. As a result, Ubuntu includes several of these drivers on the CD and in the repository, clearly separated from the rest of the software by being placed in the restricted component. Binary drivers are a poor choice, if you have a choice. Without source code, Ubuntu cannot support this software. We only provide it for users who require it to be able to run the free software we provide in main. Also, we cannot make binary drivers available on other architectures (such as Mac or IPAQ) if we don't have the ability to port the software source code ourselves. If your hardware is fully supported with Open Source drivers you can simply remove the restricted component, and we would encourage you to do so. Software Installed by DefaultWhen you install Ubuntu, you will typically install a complete desktop environment. It is also possible to install a minimal set of software (just enough to boot your machine) and then manually select the precise software applications to install. Such a "custom" install is usually favored by server administrators, who prefer to keep only the software they absolutely need on the server. All of the application software installed by default is free software. In addition, we install some hardware drivers that are available only in binary format, but such packages are clearly marked in the restricted component. |