Software License

Software License

1. What is it?

   • is a document that provides legally binding guidelines for the use and distribution of software.
     • Software licenses typically are proprietary, free or open source. The distinguishing feature is the terms under which users may redistribute or copy the software for future development or use.

2. How do software licenses work?

   • A software license is a document that states the rights of the developer and user of a piece of software. It defines how the software can be used and how it will be paid for.
     • how many times the software can be downloaded; what the software will cost; and what level of access users will have to the source code.

3. Why software licenses are important

   • A software license establishes the rights of all parties involved with the software: the author, the provider and the end users. It defines the relationship between the software company and users and explains how they are protected.
     • They protect developers' intellectual property and trade secrets based on copyright laws.
     • They limit the liability of the vendor.
     • They limit what other parties can do with the covered software code.
     • They establish how users stay in compliance with software licenses, protect themselves from infringement claims and limit their legal liability.
     • They define what users can do with software code they did not write.
     • They help users maintain a positive relationship with software developers and vendors.
     • They prevent overspending on licenses by establishing clear parameters of how many licenses an organization needs.

4. What are the different types of software licenses?

   • Free and open source software (FOSS) licenses are often referred to as open source. Proprietary licenses are often referred to as closed source.
     • Public domain
     • Lesser general
     • Permissive
     • Copyleft
     • Proprietary