# Types of software licenses

Each software comes with a license agreement that negotiates the terms of use. The license agreement is a document with a legal weight, so by installing the program you automatically agree to the terms of the license agreement, even if it was not displayed during installation.
Types of software licenses can be divided into:
* Paid software;
* Shareware;
* Freely distributed software.

Software licenses
Pay software | Free | Free software
Shareware | Abandonware | Free software
Commercial software | Adware | GNU GPL
Crippleware | Beerware | BSD
Hostageware | Betaware | MIT
Nagware | CDware | GNU LGPL
Trialware | Freeware | Open source software
Trial | Donateware | Apache License
Demoware | Donationware | Mozilla public license
Careware | Linkware | Academic free license
Charityware | Liteware | GNU AGPL
| Postcardware | Common Public License
| Cardware | Eclipse Public License
| Proprietary software | Eiffel Forum License
| Public domain |
| Registerware |
| Requestware |

Some attribute free-distribution programs to the category of free, and in the same category add shareware. This is a wrong approach, because shareware programs can be used free of charge only if the terms of the license agreement are strictly adhered to.
It is also incorrect to classify paid software into other categories. They still require payment for proper work.
Freely distributed programs are a separate category, and it is not correct to rank it among others. The user can use them without paying attention to the license agreement, because they are allowed to use at home and in the office. Restrictions are available only for distribution and modification.
Public Domain - This category includes software, copyright for which has expired. Some consider Public Domain (public domain) to be free software, but this is erroneous, since this category is highly dependent on the legislation of the country in which the program is used or was written. In addition, in these programs, old license agreements are retained, which do not say that the program can be used freely, so in the case of verification there may be trouble.
Shareware - Software with the option of payment, which may involve a demonstration period.
Commercial software (commercial software) - Initially created for commercial profit, usually by selling copies.
Crippleware - Key functionality is disabled before the key is acquired.
Hostageware - Has time limits, or by the number of licenses that can be unlocked after payment.
Nagware - Obsessive reminders of the need for payment.
Trialware, Trial, Demoware - A demo version of a commercial software product that has time or functionality limitations.
Careware, Charityware - Payment goes to charity.
Abandonware - No longer available for sale and is not supported.
Adware - With the content of advertising.
Beerware - Allows the user to use the free program and source code, but if he meets the author, he should buy him a beer mug.
Betaware - Beta version, for the testing period can be allowed to use for free.
CDware - Distributed for promotional purposes on CDs.
Freeware - It can be used for free under the terms of the license agreement, in which in most cases explicit use is prohibited in the organization.
Donateware, Donationware - It is provided for free, usually even with permission to use in the organization, but may pop up a message asking to make a donation to the author.
Linkware - The author asks on his sites to link to his site.
Liteware - Commercial product with limited functionality.
Postcardware, Cardware - Can be used for free, but the author asks you to send him a postcard.
Proprietary software (Proprietary software) - Is a private property, the terms are negotiated in a license agreement.
Registerware - You need to fill out a questionnaire.
Requestware - The author asked to do something for the use of the program.
For the user, freely distributed programs are the same, because all of them are allowed to use at home and in the office.
Free software - The general term of free software. But because of the ambiguity of the word Free, it is confused with free software, so it was recommended to go to the term Open source software.
GNU GPL - The most popular license for free software. Permission is granted to use, distribute and modify. It is forbidden to sell the program. When modifying the program, it is necessary to distribute the product in the future under the same license.
BSD - Usually in such a license only three points. The first permits the use of the product for free at home and in the organization. The second one says that even with the modification, a reference to the author of the original program should be preserved. The third paragraph says that no guarantees are provided.
MIT - It is allowed to use in products with closed code, provided that the text of the license is distributed together with this program.
GNU LGPL - Developed as a trade-off between the GNU GPL and licenses such as BSD and MIT.
Open source software - Open source software, that is, open source software. At what, in this case it is not enough to open the code for studying, it should be for completion by free licenses.
Apache License - Permission to use and distribute. Modification is also permitted, but with some minor conditions. Used for Apache Software Foundation products.
Mozilla Public License - The license for free software, which is developed by the Mozilla Foundation, and is used for the software products of this company.
Academic free license - Free Software License that explains