3.2 · Licensing Schemes
Goal: compare freeware, shareware, open source, commercial software — pros and cons of each.
The four schemes the syllabus names
| Scheme | Cost | Source code | Modify? | Redistribute? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copyrighted (commercial) | Paid | Closed | No | No | Microsoft Office, Photoshop |
| Shareware | Free trial, then paid | Closed | No | Limited | WinRAR (popups), some games |
| Freeware | Free | Closed | No | Yes (often) | Adobe Acrobat Reader, Skype |
| Open source (FOSS) | Free | Open | Yes | Yes (with conditions) | Linux, Firefox, Python, MySQL |
Open-source sub-licences
Open source isn't one thing — it covers many specific licences:
| Licence | Style | Key term |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Permissive | Use as you like; keep attribution |
| Apache 2.0 | Permissive | Like MIT + patent clauses |
| GPL | Copyleft | Derivatives must also be open source |
| LGPL | Lesser copyleft | Allows linking with proprietary code |
| Creative Commons | For media | BY, SA, NC, ND combinations |
Pros & cons for the user
Commercial software
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Polished, supported | Costly |
| Vendor accountability | Vendor lock-in |
| Predictable updates | Closed code, no inspection |
Open source
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free | Support varies (forums vs paid) |
| Inspectable | Often less polished UX |
| Customisable | Steeper learning curve |
| No vendor lock-in | Niche / less documentation in some projects |
Pros & cons for the developer
Closed source
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sell licences | Lock yourself in to a single revenue model |
| Protect trade secrets | Cannot benefit from community contributions |
Open source
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wider adoption | Hard to monetise directly |
| Free QA from the community | Must respond to issues, PRs |
| Reputation / portfolio | Risk of being forked |
Selecting wisely
For an SBA, you might mix:
- Free open source for the backbone (e.g. Python, MySQL).
- Freeware for utilities (e.g. Adobe Reader).
- Commercial software where there's no good alternative.
Exam-style question
Q (5 marks): Compare freeware and open-source software. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of each for an individual user.
Sample answer:
| Aspect | Freeware | Open source |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Source code | Closed | Open |
| Modify? | No | Yes |
Freeware advantage: easy to install and use — no licensing concerns; the user just downloads and runs. Freeware disadvantage: source closed, so the user cannot inspect the code for security or modify it; depends on the vendor for updates.
Open-source advantage: source is open; advanced users can modify, fork or contribute, and there is community support. Open-source disadvantage: documentation and polish vary; some open-source software has a steeper learning curve than its commercial counterparts.
Key takeaways
- Four schemes the syllabus names: commercial, shareware, freeware, open source.
- "Free" and "open source" are different.
- Choose based on cost, support, customisation needs.
➡️ Next: 3.3 Piracy & Enforcement