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Kilen Mathews Special to the Middle East Times From a young age we are taught that sharing is good. It is also the basis for a software marketing scheme that was born soon after the arrival of the earliest personal computers. But shareware is not for free and there are significant software copyright law violations occurring, often because of a lack of understanding of software categories. There are four basic classifications of software: Commercial, Shareware, Freeware and Public Domain. Each with different restrictions and limitations in terms of copyright. Commercial software represents the majority of software purchased from software publishers, commercial computer stores, etc. When you buy software, you are actually acquiring a license to use the software, not own it. You acquire the license from the company that owns the copyright. Although the specific conditions of the license agreement vary from vendor to vendor, in almost all cases several activities are prohibited.
In general, you cannot make anything but archival backup
copies and even these may not be used unless the original
software fails. One thing that has changed with business
software is the allowance for the office/home office
user. In the business software suites now, the license
often includes the right for the user to make a copy
of software found on his personal computer (PC) at
home to be used for work. Shareware Shareware is perhaps the most abused and misunderstood software area. Shareware is based on a "try before you buy" sales scheme. You are allowed to make copies and distribute the software but if you continue to use it after you test and evaluate it - or after the defined trial period has passed - you must pay the "registration fee" (the purchase price of the software). In some cases a shareware author requires registration but no money, this is so-called "$0 shareware."
Almost all shareware programs are easily available and
can be downloaded from the internet. Selling software
as shareware is a marketing decisions that does not
change the copyright conditions as commercial software.
Just because it is shareware, you cannot pay for one
copy and then use it on every PC in the office. Because
of the low costs of distribution possible for shareware,
one can often find quality software with features and
performance rivaling commercial products at a fraction
of the cost. And much shareware comes with complete
documentation and even three months of telephone/email
technical support. Freeware
Freeware is also covered by copyright. In general, however,
the freeware use and distribution conditions are in
direct opposition to normal copyright restrictions.
Usually you can do anything you want with freeware,
except modify or extend it and then sell it. You can
modify and extend the package but all derivative software
must also be freeware. Public Domain
This final category of software is made up mostly of
small, functional software utilities and special interest
software, such as simple home and educational applications.
Currently, in developed countries, virtually all works,
including software, assume copyright protection unless
the public domain notification is stated. Which means
the disclaimer of copyright is usually very evident
with any public domain software.
The shareware system and the continued availability
of quality shareware products depends on your willingness
to register and pay for the shareware you use. The
registration fees allow authors to support and continuously
develop their products. So shareware is not free, but
is one way to get low cost useful software. So please,
if you use it, register it!
Have any questions or comments? Send email to: Kilenm@bigfoot.com
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