1. Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Concerns
Keywords
Open Source and Proprietary
Ethics
Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Concerns

2. Task
Objectives
BEGINNER: Understand what is meant by open source software.
ADVANCED:
Understand what is meant by proprietary software.
EXPERT:
Explain what you are legally allowed to do with open source and proprietary software. Q1
Why do you think that some people would bother to create software for free? Q2
Do you think there could be any ethical issues that may arise from this?
Complete the Open Source and Proprietary worksheet.
Starter activity
Define open source software and make a list of benefits and drawbacks.
Define proprietary software and make a list of benefits and drawbacks.

3. Open Source/Proprietary
Objectives
BEGINNER: Understand what is meant by open source software.
ADVANCED:
Understand what is meant by proprietary software.
EXPERT:
Explain what you are legally allowed to do with open source and proprietary software.
Open Source generally allows users access to the code to edit/change themselves.
It is usually free to download Open Source software.
You may be able to edit and distribute the updated changes you make to Open Source Software.
Proprietary Software is licenced software.
It generally costs money to buy.
You have the confidence of the program being produced by a ‘professional’ company.
Proprietary software generally has many features built into one program.
Proprietary Software will have official updates, support, upgrades and fixes released.
Starter activity

4. Open Source BENEFITS DRAWBACKS Objectives
BEGINNER: Understand what is meant by open source software.
ADVANCED:
Understand what is meant by proprietary software.
EXPERT:
Explain what you are legally allowed to do with open source and proprietary software.
BENEFITS
DRAWBACKS
Users can edit and customise software freely.
There is generally a very strong social support forum if you need help.
Usually free and good for companies with limited budgets.
Allows collaboration with other people who may want the same modifications.
Better versions of the software (i.e. less buggy) may appear faster than proprietary software.
Relies on support networks of other users.
To edit the code, you need expert knowledge.
De-bugging can be hard as no one person is necessarily responsible for the software.
May not evolve in a strict timeframe and may not have regular updates.
May need to buy in external support.
Could be more open to exploitation through users adding in malicious code.
Starter activity

5. Proprietary BENEFITS DRAWBACKS Objectives
BEGINNER: Understand what is meant by open source software.
ADVANCED:
Understand what is meant by proprietary software.
EXPERT:
Explain what you are legally allowed to do with open source and proprietary software.
BENEFITS
DRAWBACKS
Generally provide free customer support.
Meet professional standards.
Always someone to go back to if you have problems.
Generally likely to be more tailored to market needs.
Bugs, Security fixes etc., are more likely to be fixed faster.
May be broader and contain more features.
Cost may be significant.
Limited to expansion by only what is available.
Reliant on one company – what if it goes bust?
May not fully meet the needs of the customer.
Starter activity