Closed source software

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Closed source is a term for software whose license does not meet the definition of open-source software. Generally, it means only the binaries of a computer program are distributed and the license provides no access to the program's source code, rendering modifications to the software technically impossible for practical purposes. The source code of such programs is usually regarded as a trade secret of the company. Access to source code by third parties commonly requires the party to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The phrase "closed source" is ambiguous because it implies licensing where the source code to a program is unavailable. However, if taken as being an antonym to open source, it refers to software that does not meet the Open Source Definition, which is a subtly different meaning.

Microsoft's Shared source is an example of licensing where the source code is made available but not under an open-source license. If Closed source is interpreted as referring to software that does not meet the Open Source Definition, then Shared source is an example of Closed source licensing. However, if it is interpreted as simply referring to programs where the source code is not available, this isn't the case.

When a part of source or binary code used in an open source software is closed-source or patented (it is often the case for device drivers, for example), it is referred as encumbered code. Examples of such code are:

  • Some device drivers used in open-sourced operating systems.
  • Parts that were bought by the primary author from the third parties under non-free conditions at the time, when this author was not expecting to release the project as free software. This happened with Java.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_source_software"
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