Understanding Licensed Software: Types and Examples

In the context of software development, "license" refers to a legal agreement between the copyright holder (the person or organization who owns the rights to the software) and the user (you). The license grants you permission to use the software under certain conditions, such as paying a fee, abiding by certain restrictions, and respecting the intellectual property rights of the copyright holder.

When we talk about "licensed" software, we are referring to software that is covered by a license agreement. This means that the user has obtained permission from the copyright holder to use the software, but the user does not own the software outright. Instead, they have been granted a limited set of rights to use the software under the terms of the license agreement.

Some common examples of licensed software include:

1. Proprietary software: This type of software is developed and owned by a single company, and users are granted a license to use the software under certain conditions. Examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Windows and Adobe Photoshop.
2. Open-source software: This type of software is developed collaboratively by a community of developers, and anyone can use, modify, and distribute the software under certain conditions. Examples of open-source software include Linux and Apache.
3. Freeware: This type of software is free to use and distribute, but the user does not have the right to modify or sell the software. Examples of freeware include Audacity and VLC media player.
4. Shareware: This type of software is available for free to try, but the user must pay a fee to use the software beyond the trial period. Examples of shareware include Adobe Acrobat Reader and Skype.

In summary, "licensed" software refers to any software that is covered by a license agreement, which grants the user permission to use the software under certain conditions. The user does not own the software outright, but instead has been granted a limited set of rights to use the software.