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diff --git a/en/welcome/about-copyright.xml b/en/welcome/about-copyright.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8b456f828 --- /dev/null +++ b/en/welcome/about-copyright.xml @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking --> +<!-- $Id$ --> + + <sect1> +<title>About Copyrights and Software Licenses + </title> + +<para> + +We're sure that you've read some of the licenses that come with most +commercial software — they usually say that you can only use one +copy of the software on a single computer. This system's license +isn't like that at all. We encourage you to put a copy of on every +computer in your school or place of business. Lend your installation +media to your friends and help them install it on their computers! +You can even make thousands of copies and <emphasis>sell</emphasis> +them — albeit with a few restrictions. Your freedom to install +and use the system comes directly from Debian being based on +<emphasis>free software</emphasis>. + +</para><para> + +Calling software <emphasis>free</emphasis> doesn't mean that the software isn't +copyrighted, and it doesn't mean that CDs containing that software +must be distributed at no charge. Free software, in part, means that +the licenses of individual programs do not require you to pay for the +privilege of distributing or using those programs. Free software also +means that not only may anyone extend, adapt, and modify the software, +but that they may distribute the results of their work as +well. + +<note><para> + +The Debian project, as a pragmatic concession to its users, +does make some packages available that do not meet our criteria for +being free. These packages are not part of the official distribution, +however, and are only available from the +<userinput>contrib</userinput> or <userinput>non-free</userinput> +areas of Debian mirrors or on third-party CD-ROMs; see the +<ulink url="&url-debian-faq;">Debian FAQ</ulink>, under +<quote>The Debian FTP archives</quote>, for more information about the +layout and contents of the archives. + +</para></note> + +</para><para> + +Many of the programs in the system are licensed under the +<emphasis>GNU</emphasis> <emphasis>General Public License</emphasis>, +often simply referred to as <quote>the GPL</quote>. The GPL requires you to make +the <emphasis>source code</emphasis> of the programs available +whenever you distribute a binary copy of the program; that provision +of the license ensures that any user will be able to modify the +software. Because of this provision, the source code<footnote> +<para> + +For information on how to locate, unpack, and build +binaries from Debian source packages, see the +<ulink url="&url-debian-faq;">Debian FAQ</ulink>, +under <quote>Basics of the Debian Package Management System</quote>. + +</para> +</footnote> for all such programs is available in the Debian system. + +</para><para> + +There are several other forms of copyright statements and software +licenses used on the programs in Debian. You can find the copyrights +and licenses for every package installed on your system by looking in +the file +<filename>/usr/share/doc/<replaceable>package-name</replaceable>/copyright +</filename> +once you've installed a package on your system. + +</para><para> + +For more information about licenses and how Debian determines whether +software is free enough to be included in the main distribution, see the +<ulink url="&url-dfsg;">Debian Free Software Guidelines</ulink>. + +</para><para> + +The most important legal notice is that this software comes with +<emphasis>no warranties</emphasis>. The programmers who have created this +software have done so for the benefit of the community. No guarantee +is made as to the suitability of the software for any given purpose. +However, since the software is free, you are empowered to modify that +software to suit your needs — and to enjoy the benefits of the +changes made by others who have extended the software in this way. + +</para> + </sect1> |