Characteristics of Proprietary Software

Proprietary software, also known as closed-source software, is a type of software whose source code is not shared with the public for anyone to look at or change. Instead, it is owned by an individual or a company that has exclusive rights to the software. There are several distinctive characteristics that define proprietary software:

Legal Monopoly and Copyright

Proprietary software grants its creator, publisher, or rightsholder a legal monopoly through copyright and intellectual property laws. These protections prevent users from freely sharing or modifying the software. This exclusivity can also extend to usage limitations, as defined by End-User License Agreements (EULA), which often restrict how the software can be used, shared, or altered.

Licensing Over Sale

The trend towards licensing proprietary software, rather than outright selling it, emerged before software copyright protection was well-defined. These licenses often offer additional layers of protection beyond that offered by copyright laws alone. They allow software companies to retain control over their products, often restricting the rights of users to modify or distribute the software.

Distribution and Market Fragmentation

With the advent of millions of computers based on the same microprocessor architecture, a significant, unified market for binary distributed software emerged. This allowed proprietary software to be sold as pre-compiled binaries rather than source code, ensuring that the software could only run on specific systems as intended by the developers.

Examples of Proprietary Software

Common examples of proprietary operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS, macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. These systems embody the core characteristics of proprietary software, from restricted user freedoms to the inability to modify the software without an explicit, typically unauthorized, license.

Proprietary vs. Open Source

Proprietary software stands in contrast to open-source software. While proprietary software limits customers to using, upgrading, or sticking with the software from the original creator, open-source software encourages sharing, modifying, and collaborating on the code. This philosophical and practical difference defines much of the software landscape.

Conclusion

Understanding the characteristics of proprietary software is crucial for navigating the software ecosystem, whether one is a developer, business user, or consumer. The choices between proprietary and open-source software significantly impact how technology is used, shared, and developed in society today.

Proprietary Software

Proprietary software is a type of computer software that is owned by an individual or a company (known as the software publisher). The main characteristic of proprietary software is that it is distributed under a licensing agreement that restricts the user's freedoms in terms of usage, modification, and distribution. These restrictions are often enforced through copyright law.

Characteristics

Proprietary software typically comes with specific restrictions as outlined by the software license. These restrictions may include:

Limited access to the source code: Unlike open-source software, proprietary software does not provide users access to its source code. This means users cannot modify the software to suit their needs, fix bugs, or improve its functionality.
Restricted usage terms: Users are often required to agree to an End User License Agreement (EULA) that dictates how the software can and cannot be used. Violating these terms can result in legal action.
No redistribution rights: Users are generally prohibited from redistributing proprietary software, whether it's been modified or not.
Payment requirements: Most proprietary software requires some form of payment, either as a one-time purchase or through subscription models.

Development and Distribution

Proprietary software is usually developed in-house by the owning company or individual. Once developed, it is distributed to users as binary code, which cannot be easily understood or modified, thereby maintaining the proprietary nature of the application. The distribution can happen through various channels, including online platforms, physical media, or pre-installation on devices.

Comparison with Open-Source Software

Open-source software (OSS) stands in contrast to proprietary software. It is defined by licenses that allow users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software. Major differences include:

Access to Source Code: Open-source software provides users with access to its source code, allowing them to customize and improve the software.
Licensing: Open-source licenses, such as those approved by the Open Source Initiative, grant users more freedoms compared to proprietary licenses.
Community Collaboration: OSS often involves community collaboration, where developers from around the globe can contribute to the software's development.
Business Models: Companies leveraging open-source software can employ different business models such as offering paid support, custom development services, or dual licensing.

Examples

Notable examples of proprietary software include operating systems like Microsoft Windows, productivity suites like Microsoft Office, and graphic design tools like Adobe Photoshop. These applications are widely used in both personal and professional environments.

Transition to Open Source

There is a growing trend of formerly proprietary software being transitioned to open-source models. Some companies choose this route to benefit from the collaborative nature of open-source communities or to revitalize older software by inviting external developers to contribute. An example of this is the Netscape Navigator browser, which was eventually released as Mozilla Firefox, an open-source project.