Freeware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freeware (from "free" and"software") is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee.[1] Freeware is generally proprietary software available at zero price, and is not free software.[2] The author usually restricts one or more rights to copy, distribute, and make derivative works of the software.[3]
Contents |
[edit] History
The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to sell a communications program named PC-Talk that he had created but for which he did not wish to use traditional methods of distribution because of their cost.[4] Fluegelman actually distributed PC-Talk via a process now referred to as shareware. Current use of the term freeware does not necessarily match the original concept by Andrew Fluegelman.
[edit] Criteria
Software classified as freeware must be fully functional for an unlimited time with no cost, monetary or otherwise.[citation needed] The software license may impose restrictions on the type of use including personal use, individual use, non-profit use, non-commercial use, academic use, commercial use or any combination of these. For instance, the license may be "free for personal, non-commercial use".
Accordingly, freeware may or may not be free software or open source software. The principal difference being that free software can be used, studied, and modified without restriction; free software embodies the concept of 'libre' while freeware that of 'gratis'. Freeware is also different from shareware; the latter obliges the user to pay after some trial period or to gain additional functionality.[5]
[edit] See also
- List of freeware games
- List of commercial video games released as freeware
- Gratis versus Libre
- Shareware
[edit] References
- ^ Merriam-Webster definition of freeware
- ^ Dixon, Rod (2004). Open Source Software Law. Artech House. p. 4. ISBN 9781580537193. http://books.google.com/books?id=9b_vVPf53xcC&pg=PA4&dq=%22free+software%22+freeware#PPA4,M1. Retrieved on 2009-03-16. "On the other hand, freeware does not require any payment from the licensee or end-user, but it is not precisely free software, despite the fact that to an end-user the software is acquired in what appears to be an identical manner."
- ^ Graham, Lawrence D. (1999). Legal battles that shaped the computer industry. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 175. ISBN 9781567201789. http://books.google.com/books?id=c6IS3RnN6qAC&pg=PA175&dq=%22Legal+battles+that+shaped+the+computer+industry%22+%22from+the+beginning+of+the+computer+age%22. Retrieved on 2009-03-16. "Freeware, however, is generally only free in terms of price; the author typically retains all other rights, including the rights to copy, distribute, and make derivative works from the software."
- ^ http://textfiles.fisher.hu/news/freeware.txt
- ^ The Linux Information Project (2006-10-22). "Freeware Definition". http://www.linfo.org/freeware.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-12.
[edit] External links
- Freeware at the Open Directory Project
|
|||||
