PDS does not include product promotions of free software, “free ware” or “shareware” all of which have use restrictions and copyrights.
Public domain software does not necessarily allow a user to access source codes but in some cases it may.
The key distinction between Open Source (OS) and public domain software is not whether or not source code is accessible, but if there are any licensing requirements or other restrictions on use, altering the source code, redistribution, or copyrights. If there are, it is Open Source – not public domain software.
If there are absolutely no restrictions or copyrights on a software application, it is considered public domain software.
The Free Software Foundation offers a comprehensive list of free software.
