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EspañolGRATIS VERSUS LIBRE
(Redirected from Gratis)
'Gratis versus Libre' is the distinction between 'zero price' (gratis) and 'freedom' (libre). '' is slowly becoming more common in the English language. However, ''libre'' has not, and no English adjective signifies freedom only. This distinction is often important in dealing with laws concerning the use of information, such as copyright and patents. The terms are often used in the free software and open source communities, as well as the broader free culture movement.
:''"Gratis" redirects here. For the referral marketing company, see Gratis Internet.''
'Gratis' is the plural ablative form of the first declension noun "grātia" in Latin and used as an adjective in various Romance and Germanic languages (like the Dutch language) meaning "for nothing," in the sense that one does not have to pay for some good or service (''free of charge''), even though the good or service has value.
'Libre' is a word in various Romance languages, e.g. Spanish and French (descended from the Latin word ''līber'') that denotes the state of being free, as in "having freedom". Members of the free software community often talk about free as in free speech (libre) and free as in free beer (gratis, gratuit), as the word ''free'' in English does not distinguish between these meanings. "Free software" (with a capital F) usually means the former.
In hacker slang, ''gratis'' is typically referred to as ''free as in free beer'' while ''libre'' is referred to as ''free as in free speech''.[1][2]
''Free as in free beer'' refers to things which are available at no monetary cost and no restrictions (like beer given to guests at a party by the host who either made or bought the beer). By contrast, the expressions ''free as in free speech'', ''free as in freedom'', and ''free as in rights'', refer to something which is free but with restrictions. Just as the American constitutional definition of freedom of speech has been interpreted to have restrictions such as not shouting "fire" in a crowded building, open source software available under certain licenses has restrictions as to the use or distribution of the code.
Since the advent of the free software movement, these terms have entered frequent use for categorising computer programs according to the licenses and legal restrictions that cover them, such as copyright and patents. Both this expression and the term ''gratis'' are used to distinguish freeware (gratis software) from free software. See: Alternative terms for free software.
★ Extragratis
★ Stallman's discussion of FreeAsInBeer
★ 'Wired' on the first open source beer
★ ''Free, as in Beer'' by Lawrence Lessig
★ "Free as in speech and beer" book by Darren Wershler-Henry
★ "Excuse my French", a short article advocating the use of ''costless'' and ''unencumbered'' in lieu of ''gratis'' and ''libre''.
'Gratis versus Libre' is the distinction between 'zero price' (gratis) and 'freedom' (libre). '' is slowly becoming more common in the English language. However, ''libre'' has not, and no English adjective signifies freedom only. This distinction is often important in dealing with laws concerning the use of information, such as copyright and patents. The terms are often used in the free software and open source communities, as well as the broader free culture movement.
| Contents |
| Gratis |
| Libre |
| Free as in ''free beer'' versus free as in ''free speech'' |
| See also |
| External links and references |
Gratis
:''"Gratis" redirects here. For the referral marketing company, see Gratis Internet.''
'Gratis' is the plural ablative form of the first declension noun "grātia" in Latin and used as an adjective in various Romance and Germanic languages (like the Dutch language) meaning "for nothing," in the sense that one does not have to pay for some good or service (''free of charge''), even though the good or service has value.
Libre
'Libre' is a word in various Romance languages, e.g. Spanish and French (descended from the Latin word ''līber'') that denotes the state of being free, as in "having freedom". Members of the free software community often talk about free as in free speech (libre) and free as in free beer (gratis, gratuit), as the word ''free'' in English does not distinguish between these meanings. "Free software" (with a capital F) usually means the former.
Free as in ''free beer'' versus free as in ''free speech''
In hacker slang, ''gratis'' is typically referred to as ''free as in free beer'' while ''libre'' is referred to as ''free as in free speech''.[1][2]
''Free as in free beer'' refers to things which are available at no monetary cost and no restrictions (like beer given to guests at a party by the host who either made or bought the beer). By contrast, the expressions ''free as in free speech'', ''free as in freedom'', and ''free as in rights'', refer to something which is free but with restrictions. Just as the American constitutional definition of freedom of speech has been interpreted to have restrictions such as not shouting "fire" in a crowded building, open source software available under certain licenses has restrictions as to the use or distribution of the code.
Since the advent of the free software movement, these terms have entered frequent use for categorising computer programs according to the licenses and legal restrictions that cover them, such as copyright and patents. Both this expression and the term ''gratis'' are used to distinguish freeware (gratis software) from free software. See: Alternative terms for free software.
See also
★ Extragratis
External links and references
★ Stallman's discussion of FreeAsInBeer
★ 'Wired' on the first open source beer
★ ''Free, as in Beer'' by Lawrence Lessig
★ "Free as in speech and beer" book by Darren Wershler-Henry
★ "Excuse my French", a short article advocating the use of ''costless'' and ''unencumbered'' in lieu of ''gratis'' and ''libre''.
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psst.. try this: add to faves
