Latest version 2 Published 2004 OSI approved No | FSF approved Yes | |
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The WTFPL (Do What the Fuck You Want To Public License) is a permissive license most commonly used as a free software license. As a public domain like license, the WTFPL is essentially the same as dedication to the public domain. It allows redistribution and modification of the software under any terms. As of May 2016, the WTFPL was used by less than one percent of open-source software projects.
Contents
The first version of the WTFPL, released in March 2000, was written by Banlu Kemiyatorn for his own software project. Sam Hocevar, Debian's former project leader, wrote version 2.
Characteristics
The WTFPL intends to be a permissive, public-domain-like license. The license is not a copyleft license. The license differs from public domain in that an author can use it even if they do not necessarily have the ability to place their work in the public domain according to their local laws.
The WTFPL does not include a no-warranty disclaimer, unlike other permissive licenses, such as the MIT License. Though the WTFPL is untested in court, the official website offers a disclaimer to be used in software source code.
Version 1
do What The Fuck you want to Public LicenseVersion 1.0, March 2000Copyright (C) 2000 Banlu Kemiyatorn (]d).136 Nives 7 Jangwattana 14 Laksi BangkokEveryone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copiesof this license document, but changing it is not allowed.Ok, the purpose of this license is simpleand you justDO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO.Version 2
The text of the license, written by Sam Hocevar:
DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT TO PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, December 2004Copyright (C) 2004 Sam Hocevar <[email protected]>Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim or modifiedcopies of this license document, and changing it is allowed as longas 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.Usage
The WTFPL is not in wide use among open-source software projects; according to Black Duck Software, the WTFPL is used by less than one percent of open-source projects. Examples include the OpenStreetMap Potlatch online editor, the video game Liero (version 1.36), and MediaWiki extensions. Some Wikimedia Commons files were published under the terms of the WTFPL.
Discussion
The license was confirmed as a GPL-compatible free software license by the Free Software Foundation, but its use is "not recommended". In 2009, the Open Source Initiative chose not to approve the license as an open-source license, saying:
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.
The WTFPL version 2 is an accepted Copyfree license. It is also accepted by Fedora as a free license and GPL-compatible.
Some software authors have said that the license is not very serious; forks have tried to address wording ambiguity and liability concerns. OSI founding president Eric S. Raymond interpreted the license as written satire against the restrictions of the GPL and other software licenses; WTFPL version 2 author Sam Hocevar later confirmed that the WTFPL is a parody of the GPL. Free-culture activist Nina Paley said she considered the WTFPL a free license for cultural works.