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According to their commercialisation, computer programs can be classified into four groups:
Commercial programs
This type of software is used in industry and its acquisition implies a licensing agreement. Depending on the software, the user gets support and updates free or by paying extra.
Shareware
Computer programs classified as shareware can be initially installed, tested and distributed free. Later on, the authors and developers can request a license payment for the use of the software or for special usages. Sometimes, some functions can be exploited for free while the full functionality has to be paid for.
Freeware
As its name indicates, freeware is a piece of software freely available. Other user criteria have not been specified to date. It is important to keep in mind that different viruses, like trojans, are often spread through freeware.
Open Source Software
In contrast to freeware, a characteristic of open-source software is that its source code is available free, which implies that it is not simply a free program but rather a free “tool”, whose program code can be legally modified and distributed by third parties.
Why is this information important for translators and translation teachers?
It is important that translators and translation teachers know that there are different ways to commercialised software on the market. From the economic and legal point of view, freelance translators and translation agencies should be aware of which software applications have to be bought and are protected by copyright (commercial software), which can be obtained from colleagues or simply downloaded from the Internet for free (freeware) and what the restrictions are, if any (shareware), and finally which applications can be further developed according to the user's needs (open source).
For example, for freelance translators or small translation companies with a small budget freeware or shareware will probably come into play more than commercial software. In contrast, for bigger translation companies where the budget's size is not a problem, aspects such as software distribution, compatibility with other applications, quality and technical support would probably be more important when deciding which software application to acquire.