Legal Definitions - shareware

Definition: Shareware is a type of software that can be shared with others, but cannot be modified. It requires all users to pay a license fee, which applies to both the original copy and any distributed copies.

Examples:

• WinZip: A popular file compression software that allows users to compress and decompress files. It is available as shareware, meaning users can share it with others, but must pay a license fee to use it.
• WinRAR: Another file compression software that is available as shareware. Users can share it with others, but must pay a license fee to use it.

These examples illustrate how shareware works. Users can share the software with others, but must pay a license fee to use it. This fee applies to both the original copy and any distributed copies. Shareware is different from freeware, which is software that is available for free and can be modified. It is also different from proprietary software, which is owned by a company and cannot be shared or modified without permission. Shareware is a popular way for software developers to distribute their software and earn revenue.