Software Licenses (Edexcel IGCSE ICT)

Revision Note

A software licence is a legal agreement that lays out rules for how software can and can't be used
There are two main types of software licence, each with very different rules on usage, distribution and support, they are:
- Free or open source
- Proprietary

Software Licence	Features
Free	Free to modify, study, copy or distribute
Open source	Access to source code to edit/change Able to edit and distribute
Proprietary	Costs money Produced by 'professional' companies More regular official updates/support/upgrades/fixes

In regard to free software, the term 'free' means free from restrictions and NOT the cost of the software

Software Licence	Advantages	Disadvantages
Free or open source	Allows collaboration with other people who may want the same modifications Less buggy versions of the software may appear faster Usually free, good for companies with limited budgets Generally strong social support	Relies on support of other users To edit the code, you need expert knowledge May not receive regular updates Could be more open to exploitation through users adding malicious code
Proprietary	Generally free customer support Created to professional standards Always someone to go back to with any problems	Cost can be significant Limited expansion, only what is available Relies on one company May not fully meet the need of the user/customer

State what is meant by the term ‘open source software’.

[2]

Answer

‘Free’ (in relation to cost) is not accepted

Last updated: 31 May 2024

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