IPA IP 2023 Question 82
A question IPA Japan published in 令和5年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問82, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Same question on ITPEC: Oct 2024 Q18
Among the descriptions A through C below concerning Open Source Software (OSS), which of the following is the list that contains all and only the appropriate descriptions?
Explanation
A only — OSS licences let anyone obtain, modify and redistribute the source code, while the software stays copyrighted.
Open source software is published with its source code under a licence (GPL, MIT, Apache and others) that allows use, modification and redistribution, subject to conditions such as keeping the copyright notice. Statement A is therefore appropriate.
Statement B is not: paid support may be offered, but using OSS does not require buying it. Statement C is not: OSS remains copyrighted by its authors, and the licence grants permissions under that copyright rather than waiving it, so breaking the licence conditions infringes the copyright.
Answer (a)
Why not others:
- •(b) — adds C, but OSS copyright is kept, not waived
- •(c) — B is false: paid maintenance support is optional, not required
- •(d) — C alone, false for the same reason as in (b)
Key rule: OSS is copyrighted software whose licence permits free use, modification and redistribution under conditions; it is neither public domain nor tied to paid support.
Software · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.