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Proprietary software

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Proprietary software is a pejorative[1][2][3] term when used by Richard Stallman to refer to closed source computer software.

Literal and legal meanings

Exclusive legal rights to software by a proprietor are not required for software to be proprietary, since public domain software and software under a permissive licence can become proprietary software by distributing compiled (binary) versions of the program without making the source code available. Proprietary software includes freeware and shareware.

The free software movement's founder Richard Stallman sometimes uses the term "user-subjugating software" to describe proprietary software, while Eben Moglen sometimes talks of "unfree software". The term "non-free" is often used by Debian developers to describe any software whose licence does not comply with Debian Free Software Guidelines, and they use "proprietary software" specifically for non-free software that provides no source code. The Open Source Initiative prefers the term "closed source software".

Software distributions considered as proprietary may in fact incorporate a "mixed source" model including both free and non-free software in the same distribution.[4] Most if not all so-called proprietary UNIX distributions are mixed source software, bundling open source components like BIND, Sendmail, X Window System, DHCP, and others along with a purely proprietary kernel and system utilities.[5][6]

For some free software, the same laws used by proprietary software are used to preserve the rights to use, copy and modify the software. This technique is called copyleft.

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Wheaton v Peters 33 US 591 (1834)
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ Engelfriet, Arnoud (August/September 2006). "The best of both worlds". Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) (19). New Hibernia House, Winchester Walk, London Bridge, London SE1 9AG, United Kingdom: Gavin Stewart. Retrieved 2008-05-19. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ Loftus, Jack (2007-02-19). "LinuxWorld: Managing mixed source software stacks". SearchEnterpriseLinux.com. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Tan, Aaron (2006-12-28). "Novell: We're a 'mixed-source' company". CNET Networks, Inc. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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