Open Source Licence

Software can be released under an Open Source licence. The Open Source licence is used to give it’s users more freedom including the ability to freely distribute, modify, and view the source code that makes up the software.

Open Source is Free as in Freedom – not always as in Free (money).

Why choose to the Open Source licence?

• Some people don’t develop software to make money. 
• Open source licences open up software to open collaboration.
• Some software may be beneficial to more people when freely available

Example: OpenSSL

OpenSSL is an open source package installed on billions of devices and manages secure communication over networks.

It is managed by two people with limited funding.

It is a vital part of software and secure connections on the internet could not occur without it.

Benefits of an Open Source licence

There are benefits of using an Open Source licence, these can be divided between the interests of the business which sells the software and the customers of the software.