OCR H446 · Component 1 · 1.2.2

Open Source and
Proprietary Software

OCR A Level Computer Science · cszone.co.uk

H446 SpecA Level

Learning Objectives

By the end of this topic you will be able to:

Define open source and proprietary software and give examples of each

Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of open source and proprietary software

Understand software licensing: EULA, GPL, Creative Commons

Discuss appropriate use cases for each type

Open Source

Open Source Software

Open source software has its source code publicly available. Users are free to use, modify and distribute it (subject to licence conditions). It is typically free of charge.

Examples: Linux, Firefox, LibreOffice, Python, MySQL, WordPress, VLC

GNU GPL: the General Public Licence requires that derivatives must also be open source (“copyleft”).

Community driven: bugs reported and fixed by global community; security vulnerabilities often patched quickly once discovered (though also visible to attackers).

Proprietary

Proprietary Software

Proprietary software is closed source — the source code is not released. Users must agree to an EULA (End User Licence Agreement) and typically pay a fee. Modification is not permitted.

Examples: Microsoft Windows, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, macOS, iOS

EULA: defines what the user can and cannot do with the software. Typically: one licence per machine, no redistribution, no reverse engineering.

Vendor support: dedicated support team, SLAs, regular professional updates. Commercial software often has better polish and user-friendly documentation.

Comparison

Open Source vs Proprietary

Factor	Open Source	Proprietary
Cost	Usually free	Licence fee
Source code	Available, modifiable	Hidden, not modifiable
Support	Community forums	Professional/paid support
Security	Transparent (good and bad)	Obscured (security through obscurity)
Reliability	Variable by project	Generally tested professionally
Customisation	Highly customisable	Limited (as sold)
Examples	Linux, Python, Firefox	Windows, Photoshop, iOS

Licensing

Software Licensing

EULA (End User Licence Agreement): proprietary licence. One copy per machine, no redistribution, no reverse engineering. You buy the right to use, not own.

GNU GPL (General Public Licence): copyleft. Modifications must also be released under GPL. Ensures software stays open.

MIT / Apache Licence: permissive open source. Can be used in commercial products without obligation to release source. More business-friendly than GPL.

Creative Commons: content licensing (music, writing, images). Different CC licences specify usage rights (share-alike, non-commercial, attribution).

Exam Practice

OCR H446 Style · 4 marks

A school is deciding between open source and proprietary software for its student computers. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of choosing open source software.

[4 marks]

Advantages: Free of charge — reduces software budget [1]. Source code available — school IT team can customise the software for specific educational needs [1].

Disadvantages: Community-only support — no guaranteed SLA if critical issues arise [1]. May require more technical expertise to set up and maintain; staff may need retraining if they are accustomed to proprietary alternatives [1].

Common Mistakes

Don’t Lose Marks

Saying open source means “free to do anything with” — it is not. Licences like the GPL impose conditions. You must release derivatives under the same licence. “Free” refers to freedom, not necessarily price.

Saying proprietary software is always more secure — open source security is debated. Open code can be audited by many experts, but vulnerabilities are also visible to attackers.

Confusing open source with freeware — freeware is free to use but source code is not released (proprietary). Open source requires the source code to be available.

Open Source andProprietary Software