Proprietary systems rely on licensed software and equipment, restricting user activities. Users can’t modify the source code, but can make changes through system interfaces. Open systems allow for source code changes, but can lead to copyright infringement. Proprietary systems can also be shut down completely.
A proprietary system is a system that relies on software and equipment licensed from a copyright holder. Some examples include proprietary software, operating systems, and entire computer systems. The way you use the system is restricted both by license terms and by locks within the system that are designed to prevent certain activities. In this type of system, a person may have permission to use it, but not to modify or completely change it.
In the operating system example, a company develops an operating system and then compiles it so that the system’s source code can only be read by a computer, not a person. When someone wants to install that operating system, a license fee must be paid, which grants the user permission to use the software while the developer retains the copyrights and ownership. Usually the system has an interface that allows the user to make changes to increase functionality, but the user cannot change the operating system at the source code level.
For example, most operating systems allow people to manipulate the visual display to zoom things in and out, change desktop backgrounds, and change color schemes. However, someone couldn’t enter source code to do something like turn off a feature or enable a feature. Also, you cannot directly modify the source code to change the way the software works.
People using proprietary systems usually get support from the developer or manufacturer. While the system is closed and does not allow direct user changes, people can make many types of changes through various system interfaces to suit their needs. People can also install other systems that can work within or with the proprietary system to enhance functionality. For example, if an operating system does not have a built-in clock, the user can download a clock program to display a clock.
The opposite of a proprietary system is an open system, where the source code is freely available and people can make changes at any level. Some companies license their products for a fee and release the source code, while others provide their products for free with the source. One benefit of source code release is that it allows developers to design software that works well with the system and to develop patches and solutions to problems. One drawback is that it’s easy to copy the source code and distribute it to other users who don’t pay a license fee.
It is also possible to shut down an entire proprietary system completely. For example, Apple’s mp3 players are proprietary and not designed to be user-serviceable not only in terms of software, but also in terms of hardware.
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