Why Is This Mac software Free?
What is meant by the phrase "Freeware"?
Fairly often the name "Freeware" is used incorrectly. Possibly it is the 'Free' part of the term that causes confusion as when somebody gives you something for free it is usually yours to use, alter or pass on as you see fit. Regrettably "Freeware" doesn't mean Free
You can use Freeware for as long as you like without making any payment but this software still has a license limiting how you can use it. There are usually one or more restricted usage rights, this could be that the software is not modified in any way, that no one else other than themselves are allowed to distribute the software or that you can not make derivative works from the software.
Why the need for a license?
There is usually a reason for why the developer has chosen to allow you to use this software for free. For instance, the developer wants you to use a 'Lite' copy of the software and be so impressed with it that you buy the full pro copy or they would like you to go to their website to download it where they hope to entice you with other goods.
Is this a bad thing? No. How can something that you can use for free be bad?
null Maybe there is some kind of marketing agenda going on and maybe they would like you to purchase the pro version but you are still getting to use the software for nothing. And if you do like the 'Lite' version of the software why not go ahead and buy the full pro version.
So what software is totally free?
I would urge reading any small print before deciding for yourself that you can do as you see fit with someone elses software but the correct term is "Free Software" but this term is also very often misused so check the small print.
Just to keep you straight, here are a couple of other terms that are used that may lead you to think that the software is "Free"
Shareware - This type of software you can distribute as much as you like as long as you don't take payment or modify the source code. The big difference between this and Freeware is that the license to use the software only last for a limited time (usually 30 days) after which you need to make a payment to continue using it.
Open Source - You can modify and distribute this software however much you like. You can use it to create your own software packages and some of the best software around is open source software. What you are never allowed to do is to sell anything that you create from using someone elses open source software. You must also always credit the original author of the software and leave any credit tags embedded within it.
Fairly often the name "Freeware" is used incorrectly. Possibly it is the 'Free' part of the term that causes confusion as when somebody gives you something for free it is usually yours to use, alter or pass on as you see fit. Regrettably "Freeware" doesn't mean Free
You can use Freeware for as long as you like without making any payment but this software still has a license limiting how you can use it. There are usually one or more restricted usage rights, this could be that the software is not modified in any way, that no one else other than themselves are allowed to distribute the software or that you can not make derivative works from the software.
Why the need for a license?
There is usually a reason for why the developer has chosen to allow you to use this software for free. For instance, the developer wants you to use a 'Lite' copy of the software and be so impressed with it that you buy the full pro copy or they would like you to go to their website to download it where they hope to entice you with other goods.
Is this a bad thing? No. How can something that you can use for free be bad?
null Maybe there is some kind of marketing agenda going on and maybe they would like you to purchase the pro version but you are still getting to use the software for nothing. And if you do like the 'Lite' version of the software why not go ahead and buy the full pro version.
So what software is totally free?
I would urge reading any small print before deciding for yourself that you can do as you see fit with someone elses software but the correct term is "Free Software" but this term is also very often misused so check the small print.
Just to keep you straight, here are a couple of other terms that are used that may lead you to think that the software is "Free"
Shareware - This type of software you can distribute as much as you like as long as you don't take payment or modify the source code. The big difference between this and Freeware is that the license to use the software only last for a limited time (usually 30 days) after which you need to make a payment to continue using it.
Open Source - You can modify and distribute this software however much you like. You can use it to create your own software packages and some of the best software around is open source software. What you are never allowed to do is to sell anything that you create from using someone elses open source software. You must also always credit the original author of the software and leave any credit tags embedded within it.
About the Author:
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