when you purchase a computer application at the store,you are actually purchasing a?

Answer 1

You are purchasing a copy of the software and the license to use it.

Answer 2

Most likely all you will ever get is a license to use the program in a certain way. In most cases you don't own a copy of the program, you only own the media on which it is recorded.

There is a legal reason why they don't want to "sell" a copy of the program. Under copyright the software author loses some rights after the "first sale." So, no first sale, no loss of rights. Or at least that is the thought.

A license merely means that you have permission to use the software. Often there are limits on the number of machines (probably 1 but some allow both a desktop and a laptop installation.) and how long you can use it. Also the license controls whether or not you can transfer the program to another machine if yours dies or if you have to buy a new copy.

Needless to say, there are many opinions regarding whether this system is fair, right or whatever. In my practice over the years it seems that the software authors think it is fine and maybe should be stricter. The software users think it is horrible and they should be able to do anything they want with the copy the purchased.

Did that help?

Answer 3

Purchase the license to use the software. The vast majority of the software I use is under the GNU GPL, so I rarely purchase software.

Answer 4

my guess would be software