Editing Commercial software (section)

=== Free and open-source software commercialization ===
{{main article|Business models for open-source software|Free software#Business model{{!}}Business model of free software}}
While less common than commercial proprietary software, [[free software|free]] and [[open-source software]] may also be commercial software in the [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS) domain. But unlike the proprietary model, commercialization is achieved in the FOSS commercialization model without limiting the users in their capability to share, reuse and duplicate software freely. This is a fact that the [[Free Software Foundation]] emphasizes,<ref>{{cite web|last=Stallman|first=Richard M.|author-link=Richard M. Stallman|url=https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Commercial |title=Words to Avoid (or Use with Care) Because They Are Loaded or Confusing |publisher=GNU Project |date=2013-05-26 |access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref> and is the basis of the [[Open Source Initiative]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Robbins |title=Free Software Movement Versus Open Source Initiative|url=https://thetechnologyvault.com/free-software-movement-versus-open-source-intiative}}</ref>

Under a FOSS business model, software vendors may charge a fee for distribution<ref name="Selling Free Software"/> and offer paid support and software customization services.
Proprietary software uses a different business model, where a customer of the proprietary software pays a fee for a license to use the software.
This license may grant the customer the ability to configure some or no parts of the software themselves.
Often some level of support is included in the purchase of proprietary software,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Proprietary Software: Definition, Examples, and Licensing Explained |url=https://bytegeometry.com/blog/proprietary-software-definition-examples-and-licensing-explained |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=bytegeometry.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Proprietary Software? 3 Examples from Our Experts |url=https://www.revelo.com/blog/proprietary-software |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=www.revelo.com |language=en}}</ref> but additional support services (especially for enterprise applications) are usually available for an additional fee.
Some proprietary software vendors will also customize software for a fee.<ref>{{cite web|author=Andy Dornan |title=The Five Open Source Business Models |url=http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/01/the_five_open_s.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010195844/https://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/01/the_five_open_s.html |archive-date=2009-10-10 }}</ref>
Free software is often available at no cost and can result in permanently lower costs compared to [[proprietary software]].
With free software, businesses can fit software to their specific needs by changing the software themselves or by hiring programmers to modify it for them.
Free software often has no warranty, and more importantly, generally does not assign legal liability to anyone.
However, warranties are permitted between any two parties upon the condition of the software and its usage.
Such an agreement is made separately from the free software license.