Keep in mind that commercial software use is usually restricted by license. When you buy, install, or use software, you acquire a license to use the software from the company that owns the copyrights and you are legally bound by their agreements. The conditions and restrictions of the license agreements vary from program to program and should be read carefully, especially in regard to copying limitations, permitted uses, prohibited uses, and restrictions.
Depending upon the agreement, the license can be a:
Babson College negotiates site licenses with software vendors for software products that are selected for extensive use to provide the college community with efficient access to these programs that support the curriculum while assuring the copyright owner a fair royalty. What you can do with software is limited by the license for that particular software package.
Software that is not licensed to Babson College may also be licensed and used by individuals.
| Software Type | Copyright Protection | Copying | Derivative Works | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Protected | Single archival copy allowed | Not allowed | See license agreements for what is permitted |
| Shareware | Protected | Single archival copy allowed | Not allowed | Adopters owe a fee to rights holder |
| Freeware | Protected | Single archival copy allowed | Allowed, with conditions | Distributed for free; author retains rights but freely permits use |
| Open Source | Protected | Copying allowed | Allowed | No distribution restrictions; purpose is to encourage further development of software; version control is maintained for the purpose of tracking improvements and acknowledging contributions |
| Public Domain | Not protected | Copying allowed | Allowed | No distribution restrictions |
Copying of commercial software is strictly limited, except for backup purposes. Those that are strictly prohibited include:
You may make a copy of computer software that is in the public domain. Unless clearly marked as public domain, assume the software is copyrighted.
You may install software on multiple machines and distribute it to users via a network, providing the number of simultaneous users does not exceed the number of licenses; and the number of machines being used does not exceed the number licensed. A network license may be required for multiple users.