Open Source FAQ > Basic open source software licensing questions > Why don't licensors license source code?
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- Most software developers only license the object code to their programs for two reasons: (1) they do not want competitors to see how to decode their programs, and (2) they do not want licensees to modify the programs, because they are concerned about technical support problems arising from bugs introduced by "do-it-yourselfers." On the other hand, open source advocates don't think it's fair to have to rely on the licensor to make all fixes and changes.
Last updated on November 7, 2009 by Heather Meeker