GPL to prohibit the practice for those products. If such problems arise substantially in other
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domains, we stand ready to extend this provision to those domains in future versions of the
GPL, as needed to protect the freedom of users.
Finally, every program is threatened constantly by software patents. States should not allow
patents to restrict development and use of software on general-purpose computers, but in
those that do, we wish to avoid the special danger that patents applied to a free program
could make it effectively proprietary. To prevent this, the GPL assures that patents cannot be
used to render the program non-free.
The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification follow.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
0. Definitions.
"This License" refers to version 3 of the GNU General Public License.
"Copyright" also means copyright-like laws that apply to other kinds of works, such as
semiconductor masks.
"The Program" refers to any copyrightable work licensed under this License. Each licensee is
addressed as "you". "Licensees" and "recipients" may be individuals or organizations.
To "modify" a work means to copy from or adapt all or part of the work in a fashion requiring
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copyright permission, other than the making of an exact copy. The resulting work is called a