ITPEC IP October 2025 Question 74
Which of the following is free software that can be copied or modified freely without permission from the author?
Explanation
Public domain software — its copyright has been abandoned or has expired, so anyone may copy and modify it without asking the author.
Whether software may be copied or modified depends on its rights, not on its price. Public domain software carries no copyright to enforce, so no permission is needed for any use. Freeware and shareware, by contrast, may be free to obtain, but the author keeps the copyright and the licence sets what users may do.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) Shareware — can be tried free, but continued use requires payment, and the author keeps the copyright, so modification needs permission
- •(b) Package software — commercial software sold with a licence that restricts copying and modification
- •(d) Utility software — names a function (tools that support the OS, such as compression or backup programs), not a copyright status
Key rule: Free of charge is not free of rights: only public domain software has no copyright; freeware, shareware and OSS remain copyrighted and are used under their licence terms.
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