davidbrierley@lynx.northeastern.edu (04/28/91)
Public domain (PD) software can be distributed and modified by anyone. Freeware is often the same as public domain, but sometimes authors of freeware maintain copyright over their works. Often they allow people to distribute, use, and sometimes modify the program as long as the original credits remain, etc. Shareware is NOT public domain. With shareware the author waives only his/her right to distribution, but retains all other copyrights in regards to commercial sales of the original program and derivative works. Usually the user is legally required to send in the shareware contribution if he/she uses the program, but is free to pass on unaltered copies to anyone. For more information on software copyrights consult: How to Copyright Software M.J. Salone Nolo Press