IPA IP 2026 Question 97

Topic: Software

A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問97, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.

Among the descriptions below concerning the handling of OSS (Open Source Software), which of the following lists all and only the appropriate descriptions?

AA recording medium on which OSS is collected is provided to customers for a fee.BModified OSS is provided as OSS with its use restricted to a specific field.CThe source code of OSS in which a defect was found and fixed is provided on one’s own website.

Explanation

Only A and C are appropriate — OSS may be sold and its fixed source code redistributed, but its use may not be restricted to particular fields.

The Open Source Definition sets the conditions a licence must meet for software to be OSS. Three of them decide this question:

  • •Free redistribution: anyone may give the software away or sell it, also as part of a collection. Selling a medium with OSS on it (A) is allowed.
  • •Derived works and source code: modified versions may be distributed, with their source code. Publishing the source code you fixed on your own website (C) is allowed, within the licence's terms such as keeping its copyright notice.
  • •No discrimination against fields of endeavour: a licence may not limit use to, or bar it from, a particular field. Modified OSS restricted to one field (B) cannot be offered as OSS.

Answer (b)

Why not others:

  • •(a) — leaves out C: redistributing modified source code is exactly what OSS permits
  • •(c) — includes B, a restriction on the field of use, which the Open Source Definition forbids
  • •(d) — leaves out A: OSS may be sold, on its own or collected on a medium

Key rule: An OSS licence may allow charging for distribution and must allow modification and redistribution, but it cannot discriminate against persons, groups or fields of use.

Software · AI-written, may contain errors

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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.