Free objects
From 4freedom
What do we mean by 'free' and how to make free objects
In a world with more than 6 billion people, the number of definitions of the word 'free' can exceed over 6 billion, so in order to make clear what we are talking about it makes sense to define ours. 4Freedom uses the word 'free' in the way it has been defined by the Free Software Federation. This should come as no surprise. If you don't agree with this definition for whatever reason, please put your reaction at the end of this page, because it is important that we agree on this issue. Please note that we did not chose this definition because we think that it is 'better' than other definitions. We choose this one because it suits best to our goals. Now what are our goals, and what exactly is the definition?
The FSF considers software free if it gives the user the following 4 freedoms, numbered from 0 till 3.
Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose.
Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies.
Freedom 3: The freedom to release and distribute the modified version.
Now I will have a look at each of these 4 freedoms more closely and see what the consequences are for building and scripting in Second Life.
Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program for any purpose.
If, in the real world, you don't want anyone to use your program to manufacture nuclear bombs, for example, then you are free to add that restriction. However, no matter how noble your motives are, your program can no longer be considered free then.
Now what does this mean for Second Life? Suppose you have written a script that can blow big holes in any surface, but you want it to be used only for mining and not for weapons. It is possible to add a note which forbids the user to use your script in weapons, but it is also obvious that there is very little you can do about it. You are not going to sue him for using your script in a virtual weapon. Times may change, but for the time being I consider Freedom 0 to have no practical relevance in Second Life.
Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
This freedom speaks for itself. Human beings can't read binary code, at least not without getting a headache, so if you want to understand how a program works, you need to be able to read its source code.
On Second Life this freedom corresponds with the modify flag. If you select it, then in case of a script you give users the possibility to read and modify it. And in case of an object you give the user the possibility to stretch it, change its colour, etcetera.
Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies.
This freedom should also speak for itself. Since you don't own it, you can not sell a free program. You are free to ask a distribution fee though. This may seem weird, but it is in no way contradictory to anything the Free Software Federation stands for. If you 'buy' free software you may pay for the DVD it is on, or for the profit the distributor wants to make, but NOT for the software itself. Free software has no owners.
As for Second Life no less than 3 permissions will have to be granted in order to meet this freedom.
1) The first one is the 'allow anyone to copy' permission. If you select this one, anyone who walks by and sees your object, can copy it. What more he can do with it depends strongly on the other permissions, but a copy he can make.
2) The second permission you will have to grant is the 'next owner can copy' permission. This allows the next owner to make copies of his copy.
3) And finally you will have to grant the 'next owner can resell/give away' permission. This enables the next owner to give away (or sell) any copies he makes.
1) So, if you see an object and the 'allow anyone to copy' permission is not granted then you are simply not able to copy it.
2) If the previous permission is granted, but the 'next owner can copy' permission is not, then you can make as many copies from that single object as you like, but not from any of those copies itself.
3) If both previous permissions are granted, but the 'next owner can resell/give away' permission is not, then you can copy and make copies of your copies, but you won't be able to give/resell them to anyone. Therefore all these three permissions will have to be granted.
Freedom 3: The freedom to release and distribute the modified version.
We can be short about this freedom, since it is actually the sum of the two previously mentioned freedoms. If an object or script in Second Life has freedom 1 and 2, then it follows that it has freedom 3.
Resuming, if you want to build free objects, or write free scripts be sure to grant them these 4 permissions:
1) Allow anyone to copy
2) Next owner can copy
3) Next owner can modify
4) Next owner can resell/give away
It is important to realize that composed objects are as restrictive as their most restrictive parts. If an object, which is composed of several linked objects, each of which consists of prims, scripts, sounds and textures themselves, turns out to be unfree, then it may not be so easy to find out which of the parts is the troublemaker. Therefore I would like to suggest to not wait with paying attention to the permissions, but to check them frequently during the building process. For example every time you link 2 objects.
And last but not least: how do you check if an object is free? Of course you can look at the given permissions in your inventory, but you can also test it. Just place the object somewhere, ask someone to make some copies of it, and give one to you. If you then can modify that copy, I think that your original object should be considered free.
Please don't edit this text. If you don't agree with me, or if I have made a mistake, feel free to add your comments at the bottom of this page.
Grunt Ultsch
