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title: GNU Social Contract 1.0
author: The GNU Assembly
---

# GNU Social Contract 1.0

These are the core commitments of the GNU Project, which creates and
distributes a software system that respects users' freedoms.

## The GNU Project respects users' freedoms

The GNU Project provides software that guarantees to all users the
_Four Essential Freedoms_, without compromise:
  0. The freedom to run the program as they wish, for any purpose.
  1. The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does
     their computing as they wish.
  2. The freedom to redistribute copies so they can help others.
  3. The freedom to distribute copies of their modified versions to others.

The GNU Project adopts policies that encourage and enable developers
to actively defend user freedom.  These policies include using
_copyleft licenses_, designed to ensure that users’ freedoms cannot be
stripped off, when appropriate.

Besides upholding the Four Essential Freedoms, the GNU Project pays
attention to new threats to users' freedom, and responds to them as they
arise.


## The GNU Project provides a consistent system

The GNU Project develops an operating system, the _GNU System_, as well as
a set of applications.  Each software component developed by the GNU Project
is referred to as a _GNU package_.  GNU package developers work together to
ensure consistency across packages.


## The GNU Project collaborates with the broader free software community

The GNU Project works together with other free software projects to
advance its goals, and aims to extend the reach of the project beyond
the GNU System.


## The GNU Project welcomes contributions from all and everyone

The GNU Project commits to providing a harassment-free
experience for all contributors.  It wants to give everyone the
opportunity of contributing to its efforts on any of the many tasks that
require work.  It welcomes all contributors, regardless of their gender,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, level of experience, or any other
personal characteristics.