WTFPL
Encyclopedia
The WTFPL is an infrequently used, extremely permissive free software license. The original Version 1.0 license, released March 2000, was written by Banlu Kemiyatorn who used it for Window Maker
artwork. Samuel “Sam” Hocevar
, a French
programmer
who was the Debian
project leader from 17 April 2007 to 16 April 2008, wrote version 2.0. It allows for redistribution and modification of the software under any terms—licensees are 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
.
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, December 2004
Copyright (C) 2004 Sam Hocevar
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.
, an index of free software
, includes a specific category for WTFPL software and artwork, containing 27 entries , of which two are authored by Sam Hocevar
, the author of the 2.0 license. Potlatch, the online editor of the OpenStreetMap
project, is released under the WTFPL.
Window Maker
Window Maker is a free and open source window manager for the X Window System, allowing graphical applications to be run on Unix-like operating-systems...
artwork. Samuel “Sam” Hocevar
Sam Hocevar
Samuel “Sam” Hocevar is a French computer scientist, programmer, image processing expert and reverse engineer. Hocevar was the Debian Project Leader from 17 April 2007 to 16 April 2008.- Biography :...
, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
who was the Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
project leader from 17 April 2007 to 16 April 2008, wrote version 2.0. It allows for redistribution and modification of the software under any terms—licensees are encouraged to “do what the fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
[they] want to”. The license was approved as a GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
-compatible free software license by the Free Software Foundation
Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
.
Terms
The text of the license:DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, December 2004
Copyright (C) 2004 Sam Hocevar
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. FreshmeatFreshmeat
Freecode, formerly Freshmeat, is a website owned by Geeknet that allows computer users to keep track of the latest software releases and updates as well as write/read reviews and articles, send or receive comments to or from the author, and many other features...
, an index of free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, includes a specific category for WTFPL software and artwork, containing 27 entries , of which two are authored by Sam Hocevar
Sam Hocevar
Samuel “Sam” Hocevar is a French computer scientist, programmer, image processing expert and reverse engineer. Hocevar was the Debian Project Leader from 17 April 2007 to 16 April 2008.- Biography :...
, the author of the 2.0 license. Potlatch, the online editor of the OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. Two major driving forces behind the establishment and growth of OSM have been restrictions on use or availability of map information across much of the world and the advent of inexpensive portable GPS devices.The...
project, is released under the WTFPL.
See also
- BeerWareBeerwareBeerware is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek term for software released under a very relaxed license. It provides the end user with the right to use a particular program .-Description:...
- CC zero
- CopyleftCopyleftCopyleft is a play on the word copyright to describe the practice of using copyright law to offer the right to distribute copies and modified versions of a work and requiring that the same rights be preserved in modified versions of the work...
- CrimethInc. N©! licenseCrimethInc. N©! licenseThe CrimethInc. N©! license is a copyleft anarchist license with restrictions of use based on anti-statism and anti-corporatism. The terms of use were written by the CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective and included in some of their works such as the group's "cookbook", Recipes for Disaster. The...