Can Free Software Be Sold? Debunking Myths About Open‑Source Commercialization
This article explains why selling free software is perfectly legitimate, clarifies common misconceptions about price and freedom, outlines the GNU GPL’s stance on charging for distribution, and shows how revenue from open‑source sales can sustainably support the community.
In recent years many open‑source projects have struggled with commercialization, and criticism of selling open‑source software persists. A common misunderstanding equates open‑source with free‑of‑charge software, which is not accurate.
Richard Stallman, the founder of the free‑software movement, explicitly stated in the GNU manifesto that free software may be sold. Consequently, commercializing free and open‑source software is entirely reasonable.
Free vs. Non‑Free Software
The word “free” has two meanings: freedom of use and price. When discussing “free software” we refer to the former, not to zero cost. Users of free software have the rights to run, study, modify, and redistribute the original or modified versions.
Free software can be distributed for any price, from nothing to a substantial amount. The Free Software Foundation encourages distributors to charge whatever they deem appropriate. If a license forbids copying and selling, it is not a free license.
Pricing Myths
Higher distribution prices do not necessarily exclude users because free software can be freely copied and shared through friends, networks, or shared media. Unlike proprietary software, where high prices limit access, free software’s availability is not constrained by the price of a single copy.
Long‑term adoption of free software depends more on its functionality and usability than on price. Users will choose proprietary alternatives only if free software cannot meet their needs.
GPL and Pricing
The GNU General Public License does not restrict how much you may charge for distributing free software. You may charge nothing, a modest fee, or even a large amount, provided you comply with the market reality. The only GPL requirement is that when you distribute binaries, you must also provide the complete source code upon request.
If a distributor tries to charge exorbitant fees while refusing to supply source code, that practice violates the GPL and is not tolerated.
Original English text: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html
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