Open source software refers to software that is widely available. But it doesn’t stop there. With O.S.S. programmers and developers can modify and share it. And this is the most wonderful benefit from O.S.S. When software is open, people can distribute as much as they want to, but always giving credit to the author. ALWAYS.
Open source projects, products, or initiatives embrace and celebrate principles of open exchange, collaborative participation, rapid prototyping, transparency, meritocracy, and community-oriented development.
While this doesn’t mean you can copy it and sell it as if it was yours, you can learn from it. You can grab a piece of code and use it (again, giving credit) freely. According to the ACM Code of Ethics, it is not fair to obtain a profit out of someone else’s work. You wouldn’t like, or do you ?
Talking about profit, the fact that O.S.S. is widely available doesn’t mean that it is free. Don’t worry, it is a common misconception. Some developers charge for O.S.S. and you still get all benefits from O.S.S. You can see it as a way to credit the author.
