proprietary software
proprietary software. Software that cannot be used, redistributed, or modified without permission. • Proprietary software is usu. sold for profit, consists only of machine-readable code, and carries a limited license that restricts copying, modification, and redistribution. A user may usu. make a backup copy for personal use; but if the software is sold or given away, any backup copies must be passed on to the new user or destroyed. Cf. FREEWARE; SEMI-FREE SOFTWARE E; SHAREWARE.
