# RootSpeak Freeware Licence

RootSpeak — Advanced Messaging System for Linux
Copyright (c) 2026 Nicola Fiorillo. All rights reserved.

This licence applies to every version of RootSpeak published by the Author.

## 1. Definitions

- **"RootSpeak"** means the programs `rspeak` and `rootspeak-user`, the
  installer `install.sh`, the shell hooks and the other files installed with
  them, the manuals and every other file published with them by the Author.
- **"Author"** means Nicola Fiorillo.
- **"You"** means any person or organisation that obtains a copy of RootSpeak.
- **"Commercial Offering"** means anything offered for a fee or as part of a
  business, including: software, operating systems, hardware, pre-installed or
  bundled software, subscriptions, cloud or hosted services, support, training
  or consulting.

## 2. What you may do, free of charge

1. **Use** RootSpeak for any purpose, on any number of machines, privately or
   at work, including as a tool while doing paid work (for example
   administering the machines of a company, a school or a customer).
2. **Copy** RootSpeak and **give it to others**, unchanged and free of charge,
   together with this licence.
3. **Install** RootSpeak with its installer on any number of machines, also
   with your own deployment tools, change its configuration file
   (`/etc/rootspeak/rootspeak.conf`) and write any message you like with it.
   These are not modifications under section 3.
4. **Include** RootSpeak in a collection of software (for example a software
   repository or a set of tools for a lab) only if the whole collection is
   given away free of charge, RootSpeak is unchanged, and this licence is
   included.

## 3. What you may not do without a written licence from the Author

1. **Sell** RootSpeak, or charge any fee for it, for copies of it, or for
   access to it.
2. **Include, bundle, pre-install, or distribute** RootSpeak as part of, or
   together with, a Commercial Offering, or offer a Commercial Offering whose
   value comes, entirely or substantially, from RootSpeak.
3. **Modify** RootSpeak, translate it or create derivative works of it, except
   as allowed in section 2.3.
4. **Decompile, disassemble or reverse engineer** RootSpeak, except to the
   extent that applicable law expressly permits it notwithstanding this
   limitation (in the European Union, Articles 5(3) and 6 of Directive
   2009/24/EC; in Italy, Articles 64-ter and 64-quater of Law no. 633 of 22
   April 1941).
5. **Remove or alter** the copyright notices, this licence, or the name of the
   Author.
6. **Use the name "RootSpeak" or its logo** to suggest that the Author
   endorses you, your product or your service.

## 4. Commercial licences

To do anything in section 3, for example to include RootSpeak in a product,
write to **rootspeak@nicfio.it**. The Author may grant a commercial licence or
transfer the project, on terms agreed case by case. Nothing in this licence
obliges the Author to do either.

## 5. Ownership

RootSpeak is licensed, not sold. The Author keeps all rights not expressly
granted here, including the copyright in the programs and in the manuals.

## 6. Third-party components

Third-party components used by RootSpeak keep their own licences, listed in
`NOTICE.md`.

## 7. No warranty

RootSpeak is provided **"as is"**, without warranty of any kind, express or
implied, including the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular
purpose and non-infringement. RootSpeak runs as root and changes system files
(the shell startup files, the desktop autostart): you use it at your own risk.
A confirmation records that a user states they have read a message; it is not
proof that they have read or understood it.

## 8. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Author is not liable
for any damage arising from the use of RootSpeak or from the inability to use
it, including messages not delivered or not read, loss of data and loss of
business. This does not limit liability that cannot be limited by law, such as
liability for wilful misconduct or gross negligence (Article 1229 of the
Italian Civil Code).

## 9. Termination

This licence ends automatically if you break it. You must then stop using
RootSpeak and destroy your copies. Sections 5 to 10 survive the end of the
licence.

## 10. Governing law

This licence is governed by Italian law. Any dispute belongs to the courts of
Rome, Italy, except where the law gives a consumer the right to their own
court.