WTFPL

Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License

The WTFPL logo
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 permissive copyright license, most commonly used as a permissive free software license. It is essentially no different from dedication 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]

Terms

Version 1 

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

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

French official translation of the version 2

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.[6] "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.

Uses

The WTFPL is rarely used, at least by name, but some software has been released under it. The license can also be applied to artwork and written material.[5] Freecode, an index of free software, includes a specific category for WTFPL software and artwork, containing 39 entries as of 5 August 2014,[7] of which two are authored by Sam Hocevar, the author of version 2.0 of the license. Potlatch, an online editor of the OpenStreetMap project, as well as its more recent equivalent iD, are released under the WTFPL.[8][9]

It 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.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Licenses - Free Software Foundation". Free Software Foundation.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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
  3. ↑ Version 1.0 license
  4. ↑ Window Maker WTFPL
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sam Hocevar. "WTFPL 2.0".
  6. ↑ (French) « LPRAB - Licence Publique Rien À Branler », sur le site de Sam Hocevar.
  7. ↑ "Projects tagged "WTFPL"". freecode.com. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  8. ↑ "Potlatch 2 LICENCE.txt on GitHub repository". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  9. ↑ "iD LICENCE on GitHub repository". Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  10. ↑ Sam Hocevar (27 December 2012). "Frequently Asked Questions". WTFPL – Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License. Retrieved 25 December 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to WTFPL.