Where software is not covered by any license, it is normally categorized as: In both cases, the software license will most often specify limitations of liability from use of the software product, any mutual responsibilities such as support, and any warranties or disclaimer of warranty. A proprietary software license often includes terms that prohibit “reverse engineering” of the object code with the intention of obtaining source code by the licensee. Proprietary software licenses - provide no such authority for code modification or reuse and normally provide software with operational code only, and no source code. This open-source type of licensing affords the user authority to modify the software functions and freedom to inspect the software code. Proprietary– also referred to as “closed source”įree and open-source software (FOSS) – referred to as “open source”įOSS software licenses - give rights to the customer that include modification and reuse of the software code, providing the actual source code with the software product(s). Most software falls under one of two categories that have distinct differences in how they are viewed under copyright law: End-user rights, such as installation, warranties, and liabilities, are also often spelled out in the software license, including protection of the developer’s intellectual property. The license is a text document designed to protect the intellectual property of the software developer and to limit any claims against them that may arise from its use.Ī software license also provides legally binding definitions for the distribution and use of the software. A software license is a contract between the entity that created and supplied an application, underlying source code, or related product and its end user.

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