%0 Journal Article %J Open Source Business Resource %D 2009 %T F/LOSS is Commercial Software %A David A. Wheeler %X Many people mistakenly use the term "commercial software" as if it was the opposite of Free/Libre Open Source Software (F/LOSS). This is in spite of: i) the rise in commercial development and support for F/LOSS; ii) the goal of most F/LOSS projects to incorporate improvements, which is actually a form of financial gain; iii) official definitions of "commercial item" that include F/LOSS; and iv) F/LOSS licenses and projects that clearly approve of commercial support. In reality, there are two types of commercial software: proprietary software and F/LOSS. This paper provides examples for each of the four points mentioned above, briefly notes some alternative terms, and ends with some conclusions, and explains why it is important to understand that F/LOSS software is almost always commercial. %B Open Source Business Resource %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %8 02/2009 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/229 %N February 2009 %9 Articles %1 David A. Wheeler is a software developer and technical author. His interests include include writing secure programs, vulnerability assessment, open standards, open source and free software, Internet/web standards and technologies, and POSIX. David holds a MS, Computer Science and BS, Electronics Engineering from George Mason University.