Even though we paid for an application, it may happen that we use it illegally. The boundary between honest user and the offender can be very thin. What to pay attention to not exceed?
Abandonware
Homeoftheunderdogs.net – a popular website with abandonware
This issue can be summed up very briefly: abandonware legally does not exist. This is only a figment of Web users, who called such software and – above all – the game considered abandoned by their owners, which have either not there, or are not interested in providing support and earning on old products.
In contrast, however, there are abandonware orphan works, ie those whose owners can not be determined, but not expired to them copyrights . As a result, the works of these can not be made public, but legal access to them will be possible, eg. In libraries, universities or archives.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
Software – including the operating system – can be an integral part of the equipment • Fig. Microsoft.com
This type of license (or rather the method of sale) is well known among purchasers of computers, which are often sold as a set together with a “free” operating system. It all boils down, in this case the fact that the objective copy of the software is assigned to a specific component , or the entire computer, and its price is included in the price of the hardware.
That is why – according to the provisions of the license – upgrade your computer may be associated with loss of the right to use the software or operating system. The user also can not sell the software itself, which is then integral part of the equipment .
Box
Problems such does not make software sold in-a-Box (this is also a sales model and not the type of license!). It is a standalone and usually more expensive product , which you can install on any devices and unlimited transfer between them or install on a few – the number of posts set out in detail license.
Freeware
On the surface, everything here is obvious: after all, get a free product, with which we can use. Less obvious are additional restrictions – yes, we can use without spending a dime, but the owner of the software is made available as freeware can (and often does) stipulate that it is possible to use only for noncommercial purposes .
For example – after installing the editor EditPad Lite can draw from his lecture with a note and a list of things to do. But if we want to write an offer for the customer, we should pay 19.95 dollars. for the commercial license.
Freeware
This type of license is to allow the user familiarize yourself with the software before making a decision to buy. In practice, this means that the application can be used eg. For 30 days, or let it run a limited number of times. Some developers use restrictions, which then block the software or limit its functionality, eg. Excluding some function or by adding watermarks to documents.
Others did not bring such locks, counting on the good will of users. An example of such an approach include Total Commander or WinRAR, which users after a 30-day trial period should either remove the software or pay for further use.
Adware
This software is available usually for free or for a nominal fee. Its creators make money from ads, shown to users . This solution is experiencing a second youth through mobile platforms; before it was used, among others by GG, a long time ago – Version 8.50 – by the creators of the Opera. The browser was made available for free, but display a small banner ad.
GNU GPL (General Public License)
Logo GNU • Fig. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
One of the key license that defines free software. For software can be called free, has to simultaneously meet four conditions , numbered from 0 to 3: user can run them in any order (0) analyze the action and customize to your needs (1), and distribute the unmodified copy (2) and distribute version with its own improvements (3).
The GPL is also known as viral license : all the work, using the works distributed under this license, it automatically must be based on GPL .
BSD
This developed at the University of Berkeley license is also compatible with free software. Compared with the GNU GPL key difference is the ability to protect the rights of authors: the works of the BSD license can be incorporated into other, also commercial products , including the proprietary software. The condition in this case the behavior of information about the author used the code and content BSD license, which was made available. Similar to the BSD is also the X11 license.
Licenses gift and beerware
Text license beerware 1987 • Source: Wikipedia.org
One of the most interesting types of licenses are licenses Gift. With the software released in this way can be used without restriction when the condition , posed by the creator. It is usually send him a postcard, email or SMS (respectively postcard-, mail- or SMSware), or eg. Pay any user-selected amount to some useful purpose.
Worth mentioning is also licensed beerware: the user can free use of the software, but – when you meet his creator – is obliged to bring him beer .
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