Not to be confused with Free software.

Freeware (from "free" and "software") is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee1 but usually with one or more restricted usage rights.23 Freeware is in contrast to commercial software which is typically sold for profit. The term does not imply that the software is free and open source software (FOSS). Freeware is a loosely defined category which includes both closed and open source proprietary software. Contents 1 History 2 Criteria 3 See also 4 References 5 External links History This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2010)

The term freeware was coined by Andrew Fluegelman when he wanted to sell a communications program named PC-Talk that he had created but for which he did not wish to use traditional methods of distribution because of their cost.4 Fluegelman actually distributed PC-Talk via a process now referred to as shareware. Current use of the term freeware does not necessarily match the original concept by Andrew Fluegelman. Criteria

Software classified as freeware is licensed at no cost and is either fully functional for an unlimited time; or has only basic functions enabled with a fully functional version available commercially or as shareware.5 In contrast to free software the author usually restricts one or more rights of the user including the rights to copy distribute modify and make derivative works of the software or extract the source code.3267 The software license may impose additional restrictions on the type of use including personal use private use individual use non-profit use non-commercial use academic use educational use use in charity or humanitarian organisations non-military use use by public authorities or various other combinations of these type of restrictions.8 For instance the license may be "free for private non-commercial use". The software license may also impose various other restrictions such as restricted use over a network restricted use on a server restricted use in a combination with some types of other software or with some hardware devices etc.6

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has requested that people avoid referring to true Free Software as "freeware".910 Members of FOSS community believe that "freedom to use" implies that the end user is free to run study modify and distribute the software with minimal restriction.11 Freeware is also distinct from shareware; the latter obliges the user to pay after some trial period or to gain additional functionality.2 See also Free software portal Free software movement Gratis versus Libre List of commercial video games released as freeware List of freeware video games Shareware References "Freeware" (2010). Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Accessed January 13 2010. a b c The Linux Information Project (2006-10-22). "Freeware Definition". http://www.linfo.org/freeware.html. Retrieved 2009-06-12.  a b Graham Lawrence D (1999). Legal battles that shaped the computer industry. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 175. ISBN 9781567201789. http://books.google.com/booksidc6IS3RnN6qAC&pgPA175&dq%22Legal+battles+that+shaped+the+computer+industry%22+%22from+the+beginning+of+the+computer+age%22. Retrieved 2009-03-16. "Freeware however is generally only free in terms of price; the author typically retains all other rights including the rights to copy distribute and make derivative works from the software."  Fisher.hu Dixon Rod (2004). Open Source Software Law. Artech House. p. 4. ISBN 9781580537193. http://books.google.com/booksid9bvVPf53xcC&pgPA4&dq%22free+software%22+freeware#PPA4M1. Retrieved 2009-03-16. "On the other hand freeware does not require any payment from the licensee or end-user but it is not precisely free software despite the fact that to an end-user the software is acquired in what appears to be an identical manner."  a b (PDF) ADOBE Personal Computer Software License Agreement. http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/pdfs/Reader10combined-201006251419.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "This license does not grant you the right to sublicense or distribute the Software. ... This agreement does not permit you to install or Use the Software on a computer file server. ... You shall not modify adapt translate or create derivative works based upon the Software. You shall not reverse engineer decompile disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software. ... You will not Use any Adobe Runtime on any non-PC device or with any embedded or device version of any operating system.".  "ADOBE READER AND RUNTIME SOFTWARE - DISTRIBUTION LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR USE ON PERSONAL COMPUTERS". https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfmnamedistributionform&pvrdr. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "Distributor may not make the Software available as a standalone product on the Internet. Distributor may direct end users to obtain the Software with the exception of ARH through electronic download on a standalone basis by linking to the official Adobe website."  "IrfanView Software License Agreement.". http://www.irfanview.com/eula.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "IrfanView is provided as freeware but only for private non-commercial use (that means at home). ... IrfanView is free for educational use (schools universities and libraries) and for use in charity or humanitarian organisations. ... You may not distribute rent sub-license or otherwise make available to others the Software or documentation or copies thereof except as expressly permitted in this License without prior written consent from IrfanView (Irfan Skiljan). ... You may not modify de-compile disassemble or reverse engineer the Software."  Free Software Foundation Inc.. "Words to Avoid (or Use with Care) Because They Are Loaded or Confusing". http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/words-to-avoid.html#Freeware. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "Please don't use the term freeware as a synonym for free software. The term freeware was used often in the 1980s for programs released only as executables with source code not available. Today it has no particular agreed-on definition."  "Categories of free and nonfree software". http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "The term freeware has no clear accepted definition but it is commonly used for packages which permit redistribution but not modification (and their source code is not available). These packages are not free software so please don't use freeware to refer to free software."  "The Free Software Definition". http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html. Retrieved 2011-02-16. "Free software is a matter of liberty not price. To understand the concept you should think of free as in free speech not as in free beer. ... Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run copy distribute study change and improve the software."  External links Freeware at the Open Directory Project

v d eSoftware distribution Methods Abandonware  Adware  Bundled  Beerware  Commercial  Donationware  Freely redistributable software  Free  Free and open-source  Freeware  Nagware  On-premises  Open source  Pre-installed  Postcardware  Proprietary  Public domain  Scareware  Shareware  Software as a service  Software plus services Related topics Product Activation  Shovelware  Software bloat