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proprietary software
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What is proprietary software?
Proprietary software is software developed by a company or individual who chooses not to share the program's source code publicly, maintaining control over its distribution. This allows the creator to retain legal ownership and intellectual property rights.
Copyright law protects software source code, which helps developers maintain product stability. Licensing agreements dictate the terms of use, including restrictions on the number of devices and unauthorized distribution. Common examples include Microsoft Windows and MacOS operating systems.
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How is proprietary software different from open source software?
Proprietary software is developed by a company or individual who chooses not to share the program's source code publicly, which allows them to maintain control over its distribution. They maintain ownership and intellectual property rights. Open-source software shares its source code, allowing anyone to modify or distribute it.
The protection of source code in proprietary software is thought to allow for better software security; however, those experienced with coding may find the restricted protections frustrating. Open-source code can be checked more easily for vulnerabilities. Common examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Windows and MacOS.
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Why do companies create proprietary software?
Companies develop proprietary software to retain control over its distribution by not publicly sharing the program's source code. This protection of software source code allows developers to maintain the program's product stability. Intellectual property rights are legally owned by the creator, be that an individual, organization, or company. Licensing can also be provided to demonstrate authenticity and dictate terms of use, such as limiting the number of devices that can install the software.
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What are some common examples of proprietary software?
Proprietary software is software developed by a company or individual who chooses not to share the program's source code publicly, thereby retaining control over its distribution. This software is legally owned by its creator, who also owns the intellectual property rights and source code. Common examples include operating systems like Microsoft Windows and MacOS, as well as iOS, the operating system for iPhones. Other examples are the Microsoft Office suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, design software like AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS, accounting software such as Sage and QuickBooks, and the operating systems for gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Xbox.
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How do licenses affect the use of proprietary software?
Proprietary software licenses dictate the terms of use, controlling distribution and specifying how long the software will operate, often managed through subscriptions. These licenses may limit the number or types of devices on which the software can be installed and place restrictions on unauthorized distribution.
By protecting source code, developers aim to maintain product stability and security, though vulnerabilities can still be exploited. While end users benefit from technical support from the software's creator, this support adds to the cost of software maintenance. Examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Windows and MacOS operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and operating systems for gaming consoles.
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What are some advantages and disadvantages of using proprietary software?
Proprietary software is developed by a company or individual who chooses not to share the program's source code publicly, allowing the creator to maintain control over its distribution and intellectual property rights. A key advantage of proprietary software is that protecting the source code can lead to better software security because developers can maintain product stability. Additionally, end users often receive technical support from the creator.
However, there are also disadvantages to proprietary software. Experienced users may find it frustrating that they cannot review or modify the source code to update software processes or features. Also, the need for a dedicated technical support system adds to the cost of software maintenance for creators.
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proprietary software, software developed by an individual or company that chooses not to publicly share the program’s source code. This allows the software’s creator to control its distribution. One of the key features of proprietary software is that it is legally owned by the individual, organization, or company that creates it. This includes owning any intellectual property rights associated with the software and its source code.
The software used on early computers existed outside the bounds of copyright law and was usually designed to run only on the specific hardware for which it was built. In the U.S., computer programs were not expressly considered copyrightable until the enactment of the Computer Software Copyright Act of 1980. The act outlines the elements of a software system that allow it to be considered a protected work.
Protecting software source code allows developers to maintain the product stability of the program. In contrast, open-source software shares its source code with the public. Anyone can modify or distribute open-source software.
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Advocates of protecting source code argue that it allows for better software security. With open-source software, malicious actors and hackers can identify weaknesses in the code and use them to exploit end users. However, experienced users may find the restricted protections of proprietary software frustrating, as they cannot review or modify the source code to update any of the software’s processes or features. Additionally, proprietary software is not invulnerable to attacks—hackers can exploit software vulnerabilities without access to its source code. The security of the code cannot be checked by the public; rather, users rely on company assurance. Open-source code can more easily be checked for vulnerabilities.
Creators of proprietary software can provide licensing for their product to demonstrate its authenticity. A license dictates terms of use for the program. It may limit the number or types of devices that can install the software. Licensing also places restrictions on unauthorized distribution of the software through file-sharing or torrent sites. Software licensing often specifies a length of time that a software will operate, a restriction that is managed through a subscription service.
End users of proprietary software often receive technical support from its creator. For creators, this is a potential downside to proprietary software, as a dedicated technical support system adds to the cost of software maintenance.
Common examples of proprietary software are operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or MacOS. These operating systems differ from the open-source system Linux and its various distributions, which are considered more transparent and developer-friendly. Linux systems have public-facing source code and can be downloaded for free.
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Other examples of proprietary software are iOS, which is the operating system used by iPhones, and the Microsoft Office family of products, which includes the programs Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Design software such as AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS are also proprietary software, as are popular accounting software programs Sage and QuickBooks. Additionally, the operating systems used to run home video gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Xbox are all proprietary software.