Copyright & Licenses
By Griff Riggs
Copyright
Copyright are the rights that are given to the creator of a work.
Types of Copyright
1. Public Domain
Public domain is a piece of work that has no copyright laws and is not bound by them. Therefore, you can use it for whatever you want.
Example: Shakespeare novels are not protected because the copyright has expired.
2. Freeware
Freeware is work that has some copyright and therefore you can copy, use, and give it away for free but cannot edit or change it.
Example: iTunes because you can download it for free but can't change the software.
3. Shareware
Shareware is copyrighted work that you can copy, share, or use but only for a short time or for a certain amount of levels at which point you must buy the full version.
Example: Angry Birds Lite only gives you a few levels until you must buy the full version.
4. All Rights Reserved
The software can only be used as specified in the license agreement that you agree to when you get it.
Example: A video game that you purchase from Best Buy
5. Open Source
Software that comes with the source code so that people can change the software and make it better.
Example: Google Chrome because people are allowed to change it and add extensions.