‘Public domain’ software

Abstract

‘Public Domain’, in its clearly defined legal sense, is a phrase which is used to describe an item, usually a book or a play, which is no longer copyright, i.e. when the author of the item has been dead for 50 years. It is perhaps peculiar, therefore, to see it used to describe computer software, as there cannot be many program writers who fall into this category.

Citation

Templeton, R. (1983), "‘Public domain’ software", Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 35 No. 11, pp. 440-443. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb050908