WTFPL

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Do What the Fuck You Want to Public License
WTFPL logo.svg
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] The OSI rejected the license.[2]

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.
WTFPL badge

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.

Characteristics

The license is extremely permissive and allows every use. Unlike the GPL, it's not copyleft. Unlike some other licenses, it doesn't include warranty disclaimer.[6]

It's considered as similar as possible as a dedication in public domain, in civil law countries where such dedication isn't possible.[6] A similar license for other artworks could be the CC0, launched in March 2009 by Creative Commons.[7][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" Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Reception

The license is not in wide use among open source projects. Some software has been released under it, like the OpenStreetMap Potlatch online editor.[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 (for instance Law of Germany).[8]

Some software authors emitted the opinion the license is not serious, per the use of the term fuck.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] "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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Version 1.0 license
  4. ↑ Window Maker WTFPL
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ https://creativecommons.org/weblog/2009/03/11/13304
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 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
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ https://mackuba.eu/2011/01/15/on-open-source-licensing/
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ (French) « LPRAB - Licence Publique Rien À Branler », sur le site de Sam Hocevar.

External links

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