ITPEC IP April 2021 Question 20

Topic: SoftwareAlso asked in March 2018

Which of the following is an appropriate description concerning the use of OSS (Open Source Software)?

a)OSS users have an obligation to pay the developer the fee for the software.b)OSS users are allowed neither to sell the OSS nor to distribute it at no fee.c)OSS cannot be used in the field of genetic research.d)Software derived from the published OSS can be made available as OSS.

Explanation

Derived software can itself be released as OSS — open source licences allow modification and distribution of derived works.

The Open Source Definition requires a licence to allow modifications and derived works and to let them be distributed under the same terms as the original. So software built on published OSS can itself be released as OSS, following the conditions of the original licence (for example, the GPL requires the derived work to stay under the GPL).

Answer (d)

Why not others:

•(a) — OSS can be used free of charge; users owe the developer no fee
•(b) — free redistribution is a core condition of OSS: it may be distributed at no fee, and it may also be sold
•(c) — OSS licences must not discriminate against any field of endeavour; the Open Source Definition names genetic research as its example

Key rule: OSS means the source is published and anyone may use, modify and redistribute it, for any purpose and without paying royalties, subject to the licence's conditions.

Software · AI-written, may contain errors

Previous Next

Practice this exam

This question comes from an official ITPEC past paper. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with ITPEC. See the official IP past-paper collection or Report an issue.