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freeware
(redirected from Gratis software)

    Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.

freeware

Software that is distributed without charge and which may be redistributed without charge by its users. However, ownership is retained by the developer who may change future releases from freeware to a paid product (feeware). See shareware, free software and public domain software.

freeware [′frē‚wer]
(computer science)
Copyrighted software that is downloaded from the Internet for which there is no charge.
(legal)freeware - Software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed at no charge by users' groups, or via the World-Wide Web, electronic mail, bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media.

At one time, "freeware" was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman. It wasn't enforced after his death.

"Freeware" should not be confused with "free software" (roughly, software with unrestricted redistribution) or "shareware" (software distributed without charge for which users can pay voluntarily).

Jim Knopf's story.


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