Proponents of free software distinguish free speech from free beer, and argue that their conception of free software is intended to evoke the former idea. That is, software is a form of speech used by programmers to express technical ideas in very specific language. Free software does not necessarily mean that the price is zero. The free software movement is an explicit attempt to encode in technology specific ethical values about how the world should work. The term free software was coined by Richard Stallman, and following his lead, free software programmers have written licenses and computer programs that they believe help create liberty.

Freedom to Use, Change, and Expand the Work of Another

In order for programmers' speech to be heard, it must be transmitted to others. Programmers' work is written in source code, usually a text file, which is then interpreted or compiled by...