WTFPL
The WTFPL logo
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| Author | Banlu Kemiyatorn, Sam Hocevar |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 2 |
| Publisher | Sam Hocevar |
| Published | 2004 |
| DFSG compatible | Yes |
| FSF approved | Yes[1] |
| OSI approved | No[2] |
| GPL compatible | Yes [1] |
| Copyleft | No [1] |
| Linking from code with a different license | Yes |
| Website | http://www.wtfpl.net |
The WTFPL (Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License) is a very permissive Software license most commonly used as a permissive free software license. As also Public domain like/public copyright license, the WTFPL is essentially not different from dedication (by waiver/anti-copyright notice) to the public domain.[2] The original Version 1.0 license, released March 2000,[3] was written by Banlu Kemiyatorn who used it for Window Maker artwork.[4] 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 – 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 but its use is “not recommended.”[1] The OSI rejected the license,[2] but the WTFPL is accepted as copyfree license.[6]
Contents
Characteristics[edit]
The license is extremely permissive, public domain like license and allows every use. Unlike some other permissive licenses licenses, it doesn't include warranty disclaimer.[7] It's also not a copyleft license (like the GPL).
WTFPL differs from public domain in that an author can use this license if they do not necessarily have the ability to place their work in the public domain according to their local laws.[8] Its license clauses are considered as similar as possible to a dedication in public domain, working also in civil law countries (for instance Law of Germany) where such dedication isn't possible.[7] A similar license for other artworks could be the CC0, launched in March 2009 by Creative Commons.[9][8]
Because, in contrast to the MIT and other OSI-approved licenses, WTFPL does not disclaim warranties including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, nor does it expressly disclaim liability for unintended damage caused by the software, anyone who modifies or redistributes WTFPL software may therefore be subject to a host of legal obligations and duties which run counter to expectations produced by the text of the license. If this is of possible concern to you, because those issues are dependent on the laws of each country, you should get proper legal advise for more pertinent information relevant to the country you live in, or if you are choosing a license for your work, you can chose another license that protects you by disclaiming warranties.
Because of these issues, OSI rejected this license with "It's no different from dedication to the public domain. Author has submitted license approval request -- author is free to make public domain dedication. Although he agrees with the recommendation, Mr. Michlmayr notes that public domain doesn't exist in Europe. Recommend: Reject".[10]
Terms[edit]
Version 1[edit]
do What The Fuck you want to Public License
Version 1.0, March 2000
Copyright (C) 2000 Banlu Kemiyatorn (]d).
136 Nives 7 Jangwattana 14 Laksi Bangkok
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
Ok, the purpose of this license is simple
and you just
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.
Version 2[edit]
The text of the license:[5]
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, December 2004
Copyright (C) 2004 Sam Hocevar <sam@hocevar.net>
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.
Translations[edit]
French official translation of the version 2[edit]
In 2009, an official French translation of the WTFPL Version 2 was released by Samuel Hocevar, under the name Licence Publique Rien À Branler (LPRAB) version 1, by referring to a fake commercial made by the group of French humorists Les Nuls.[11] "Rien à branler" is a French expression that could be translated as "Couldn't give a shit".
LICENCE PUBLIQUE RIEN À BRANLER
Version 1, Mars 2009
Copyright (C) 2009 Sam Hocevar
14 rue de Plaisance, 75014 Paris, France
La copie et la distribution de copies exactes de cette licence sont
autorisées, et toute modification est permise à condition de changer
le nom de la licence.
CONDITIONS DE COPIE, DISTRIBUTON ET MODIFICATION
DE LA LICENCE PUBLIQUE RIEN À BRANLER
0. Faites ce que vous voulez, j’en ai RIEN À BRANLER.
Reception[edit]
The license is not in wide use among open source projects. Some software has been released under it, like the OpenStreetMap Potlatch online editor.[12]
Jeff Atwood announced in 2007 his sympathy with the WTFPL in an essay about software licenses on his website: "If I had my way, everything would be released under the WTFPL.".[13] Some software authors emitted the opinion the license is not serious, per the use of the term fuck.[14]
The Open Source Initiative has chosen in 2009 not to include the license in their list, as "It's no different from dedication to the public domain", despite the fact that public domain doesn't exist in civil law European countries.[15]
The WTFPL v2 is an accepted copyfree license.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Licenses - Free Software Foundation". Free Software Foundation.
- ^ a b c "OSI Board Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, March 4, 2009". Open Source Initiative. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
[...] the following licenses to be discussed and approved/disapproved by the Board. [...] WTFPL Submission: [...] Comments: It's no different from dedication to the public domain. Author has submitted license approval request -- author is free to make public domain dedication. Although he agrees with the recommendation, Mr. Michlmayr notes that public domain doesn't exist in Europe. Recommend: Reject
- ^ Version 1.0 license
- ^ Window Maker WTFPL
- ^ a b Sam Hocevar. "WTFPL 2.0".
- ^ a b licenses on copyfree.org
- ^ a b Sam Hocevar (27 December 2012). "Frequently Asked Questions". WTFPL – Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ^ a b Validity of the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication and its usability for bibliographic metadata from the perspective of German Copyright Law by Dr. Till Kreutzer, attorney-at-law in Berlin, Germany
- ^ https://creativecommons.org/weblog/2009/03/11/13304
- ^ "OSI Board Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, March 4, 2009". Open Source Initiative. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- ^ (French) « LPRAB - Licence Publique Rien À Branler », sur le site de Sam Hocevar.
- ^ "Potlatch 2 LICENCE.txt". GitHub. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ^ Pick a License, Any License on codinghorror.com (03 Apr 2007)
- ^ https://mackuba.eu/2011/01/15/on-open-source-licensing/
- ^ "OSI Board Meeting Minutes, Wednesday, March 4, 2009". Open Source Initiative. 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to WTFPL. |
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