The programs currently being distributed that relate to Texinfo
include two portions of GNU Emacs, plus two other separate programs
(texindex and texinfo.tex). These programs are
free; this means that everyone is free to use them and free to
redistribute them on a free basis. The Texinfo related programs are not
in the public domain; they are copyrighted and there are restrictions on
their distribution, but these restrictions are designed to permit
everything that a good cooperating citizen would want to do. What is
not allowed is to try to prevent others from further sharing any version
of these programs that they might get from you.
Specifically, we want to make sure that you have the right to give away copies of the programs that relate to Texinfo, that you receive source code or else can get it if you want it, that you can change these programs or use pieces of them in new free programs, and that you know you can do these things.
To make sure that everyone has such rights, we have to forbid you to deprive anyone else of these rights. For example, if you distribute copies of the Texinfo related programs, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must tell them their rights.
Also, for our own protection, we must make certain that everyone finds out that there is no warranty for the programs that relate to Texinfo. If these programs are modified by someone else and passed on, we want their recipients to know that what they have is not what we distributed, so that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on our reputation.
The precise conditions of the licensees for the programs currently being distributed that relate to Texinfo are found in the General Public Licensees that accompany them. The programs that are part of GNU Emacs are covered by the GNU Emacs copying terms (see section `License' in The GNU Emacs Manual), and other programs are covered by licensees that are contained in their source files.