Gratis versus libre

The English adjective free is commonly used in one of two meanings: "at no monetary cost" (gratis) and "with little or no restriction" (libre). This ambiguity of free can cause issues where the distinction is important, as it often is in dealing with laws concerning the use of information, such as copyright and patents.

"Free as in freedom" redirects here. For the book, see Free as in Freedom.

The terms gratis and libre may be used to categorise intellectual property like computer programs, according to the licenses and legal restrictions that cover them, especially in the free software and open source communities, as well as the broader free culture movement. For example, they are used to distinguish freeware (software gratis) from free software (software libre).

Richard Stallman advocates usage of the word free to mean libre with the slogan: "Think free as in free speech, not free beer."

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