Who Owns Software?

Generally, although a piece of SW that is being used by millions, it is not owned by any of them! Instead, it is owned by the maker of the SW The makers let us use their SW but keep the ownership to themselves. When we buy a  SW package, we do not really buy it – we just buy a license that allows us to use it, the ownership stays with the maker  However, there are variations on this theme …

Main Types of SW licensees

Proprietary – Most software on a Windows PC or a Macintosh belongs to this category Freeware – Most software on a Linux PC belongs to that category Shareware – the category which lies between the above two categories 

Proprietary SW License

Proprietary software, as defined by the Free Software Foundation, means any software that is not free software or is only partially free. The modification, use and redistribution  Hardware  Operating System Utility Language Translator Device Driver Scientific Apps. Business Apps. Productivity Apps. 

Entertainment Apps.  System software Application software are prohibited, or requires express permissions from the originator. The user needs to pay the maker of the SW for buying a license that allows the user to use the SW

The license, generally, does not transfer the ownership of the SW; it just allows the user to use it. The user is legally barred from making copies of the licensed SW. Generally, the license is for the personal use only. Most SW in use in the world is of this type. Examples: Windows, Mac OS, MS Word, Adobe Photoshop, Norton Antivirus Types of Proprietary Licenses Single-user license Multi-user license Concurrent-user license Site license

Freeware SW License

It is also known as “Public Domain SW”. It allows the user to free use of the SW. The author, however, generally retains ownership. It can usually be downloaded from various Web sites. Examples: Linux; LaTeX; Netscape Web browser – the Navigator; MS Web browser – the Internet Explorer

Open-Source SW License

Some authors give away the machine code only, which is extremely difficult to modify, if  at all. Others even give away the high-level language source code so that users can make  changes according to their own requirements. The later practice is called open-source licensing.

Generally is any computer software whose source code is either in the public domain or, more commonly, is copyrighted by one or more persons/entities and distributed under an open-source license . Such a license may require that the source code be distributed along with the software, and that the source code be freely modifiable, with at most minor restrictions, such as a requirement to preserve the authors' names and copyright statement in the code, Examples: Linux; Netscape Navigator

Shareware SW License

Shareware is software that is distributed without payment ahead of time as is common for proprietary software. Typically shareware software is obtained free of charge by downloading, thus allowing one to try out the program ahead of time. 

A shareware program is accompanied by a request for payment, and often payment is required per the terms of the license past a set period of time. shareware are similar in that they can be obtained and used without monetary cost. 

Usually shareware differs from open source  software in that requests of voluntary "shareware fees" are made, often within the program itself, and in that source code for shareware programs is generally not available in a form that would allow others to extend the program.  

A shareware's program source, maintenance and extensibililty can sometimes be negotiated for a licensing fee with the author(s) similar to standard proprietary software. Examples: WinZip, Download Accelerator

Trialware

It is similar to shareware but difference is that the SW is usable for a short period only. When the period is expired, it is no more in use until the license is not purchased. The trial period may vary according to its developer. This period may range from a week to a few months. It can be downloaded from the Internet or alternatively.