Nomenclature: Free Software and Open-Source Software

Throughout A Vision for Free Internet Application Services, we will make frequent use of the terms free software, and open-source software. These terms are often used informally and casually in the software industry, and may have several different meanings. For example, the term open-source software is often used to indicate merely that the source code is available. When we use the term open-source, however, we are using a much stricter definition than this.

Our definitions of the terms free software and open-source software are consistent with those of the Free Software Foundation and OpenSource.org. Throughout this business plan, we will use these terms with the following definitions:

Open-source software refers to software for which the source code is readily available. Either the software must be distributed as source code per se, or the source code must be readily available from some other source. Also, the software must be distributed under a license which does not restrict the selling or re-distribution of the software as a component of an aggregate software distribution. The license may not require any fee or royalty for such sale. Finally, the license must allow modification and the creation of derivative works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the original license.

The above describes only the essential, key characteristics of open-source software. For a complete and detailed definition, see http://www.opensource.org/osd.html.

Free software is software which the user is free to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve. For a complete and detailed definition, see http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html.

Note that in the term ``free software,'' the word ``free'' is being used to indicate the concept of liberty or freedom of action, rather than that of without cost. In other words, we mean free as in ``free speech,'' rather than ``free beer.''