 The WTFPL logo | |
| Author | Banlu Kemiyatorn,Sam Hocevar |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 2 |
| Publisher | Sam Hocevar |
| Published | 2004 |
| SPDX identifier | WTFPL |
| FSFapproved | Yes[1] |
| OSIapproved | No |
| GPL compatible | Yes[1] |
| Copyleft | No[1] |
| Linking from code with a different licence | Yes |
| Website | www |
TheWTFPL is apermissivefree software license.[1] As apublic domain like license, the WTFPL is essentially the same as dedication to thepublic domain.[2] It allows redistribution and modification of the work under any terms. The name is an abbreviation ofDo What The Fuck You Want To Public License.
The first version of the WTFPL, released in March 2000, was written by Banlu Kemiyatorn for his own software project.[3]Sam Hocevar,Debian's former project leader, wrote version 2.[4]
The WTFPL intends to be apermissive, public-domain-like license. The license is not acopyleft license.[1] 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.[5][failed verification]
The WTFPL does not include a no-warranty disclaimer, unlike other permissive licenses, such as theMIT License.[6] Though the WTFPL is untested in court, the official website offers a disclaimer to be used in softwaresource code.[3][better source needed]
The text of Version 2, the most current version of the license, written by Sam Hocevar:[4]
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 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.
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.
The WTFPL is not in wide use amongopen-source software projects; according toBlack Duck Software, the WTFPL is used by less than one percent of open-source projects.[7]Examples include theOpenStreetMapPotlatch online editor,[8] the video gameLiero (version 1.36),[9] yalu102[10] andMediaWiki extensions.[11] More than 6,000Wikimedia Commons files[12] and more than 34,000 Projects onGitHub were published under the terms of the WTFPL.[13]
The license was confirmed as aGPL-compatible free software license by theFree Software Foundation, but its use is "not recommended".[1] In 2009, theOpen Source Initiative chose not to approve the license as anopen-source license due to redundancy with theFair License.[2]
The WTFPL version 2 is an acceptedCopyfree license.[14] It is also accepted byFedora as a free license and GPL-compatible.[15]
Some software authors have said that the license is not very serious;[16]forks have tried to address wording ambiguity and liability concerns.[17][18] OSI founding presidentEric S. Raymond interpreted the license as written satire against the restrictions of the GPL and other software licenses;[19] WTFPL version 2 authorSam Hocevar later confirmed that the WTFPL is a parody of the GPL.[20]Free-culture activistNina Paley said she considered the WTFPL a free license for cultural works.[21]
Google does not allow its employees to contribute to projects under public domain equivalent licenses like the WTFPL (and Unlicense CC0), while allowing contributions to0BSD licensed andUS government PD projects.[22]
[...] 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. [...] Mr. Michlmayr did not agree with the reasons cited for possible rejection of the WFTPL license since public domain doesn't exist in Europe. [...] Mr. Michlmayr moved that we reject the WFTPL as redundant to the Fair License.
The original Liero data and binary files are copyright 1998 Joosa Riekkinen
They are, unless otherwise stated, available under the WTFPL license:
http://sam.zoy.org/wtfpl/
There are at least two not very serious licenses which have essentially the same meaning as public domain. I'm talking about the Beerware license and WTFPL ('Do What The Fuck You Want To' license). I really like these because they pretty well represent my opinion about the legalese bullshit that most licenses are so full of.
… with aCYA clause ….
It's even clearer that the Do What the Fuck You Want To Public License is a satire. The author is one of those who thinks the Free Software Foundation has traduced the word 'free' by hedging the GNU General Public License about with restrictions and boobytraps in the name of 'freedom' – and he's got an issue or two with BSD as well. He is poking fun at both camps, not gently at all. His page about the WTFPL is funny-because-it's-true hilarious, and I admit that I feel a sneaking temptation to start using it myself.
The WTFPL is a parody of the GPL, which has a similar copyright header and list of permissions to modify (i.e. none), see for instance gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html. The purpose of the WTFPL wording is to give more freedom than the GPL does.
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