WTFPL
| Author | Sam Hocevar |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 2 |
| Publisher | Sam Hocevar |
| Published | 2004 |
| SPDX identifier | WTFPL |
| Debian FSG compatible | Yes |
| FSF approved | Yes[1] |
| OSI approved | No[2] |
| GPL compatible | Yes [1] |
| Copyleft | No [1] |
| Linking from code with a different licence | Yes |
| Website | www |
The WTFPL (Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License) is a rarely used, extremely permissive free software license. The original Version 1.0 license, released March 2000,[3] was written by Banlu Kemiyatorn who used it for Window Maker artwork.[4] Samuel “Sam” Hocevar, a French programmer who was the Debian project leader from 17 April 2007 to 16 April 2008, wrote version 2.0.[5] It allows for redistribution and modification of the software under any terms—the licensee is encouraged to “do what the fuck [they] want to”. The license was approved as a GPL-compatible free software license by the Free Software Foundation.[1]
Terms [5]
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, December 2004
Copyright (C) 2004 Sam Hocevar
14 rue de Plaisance, 75014 Paris, France
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim or modified
copies of this license document, and changing it is allowed as long
as the name is changed.
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR COPYING, DISTRIBUTION AND MODIFICATION
0. You just DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.
Uses
The WTFPL is rarely used, at least by name, but some software has been released. In addition, the license can be applied to artwork and written material as well.[6] Freshmeat, an index of free software, includes a specific category for WTFPL software and artwork, containing eighteen entries as of June 2010[update],[7] of which two are authored by Sam Hocevar, the author of the 2.0 license.
The WTFPL is useful for software authors who would wish to release their software to the public domain, except that many countries do not legally recognize the ability to release a work directly into the public domain - for example, all European countries.[8] The WTFPL grants rights that are almost equivalent in practice to the public domain.[9] A release under the WTFPL thus achieves the same freedom as a public domain release, even in countries that do not recognize an ability to release works into the public domain.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Licenses - Free Software Foundation". Free Software Foundation.
- ^ "OSI Board Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, March 4, 2009".
- ^ March 2000 Version 1.0 copy
- ^ Window Maker WTFPL
- ^ a b Sam Hocevar. "WTFPL 2.0".
- ^ WTFPL - Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License
- ^ "Projects tagged "WTFPL"". freshmeat.net. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
- ^ "CC Zero FAQ". Creative Commons.
- ^ Public domain will still retain the creator's moral rights (i.e. recognition of authorship), in most jurisdictions that recognise these as distinct. WTFPL renounces everything.