also: パブリックドメインソフトウエア
noun
public-domain software
Computing term for software that is not protected by copyright and can be freely used, modified, and distributed by anyone.
このライブラリはパブリックドメインソフトウェアなので、自由に使えます。
This library is public-domain software, so you can use it freely.
フリーソフト (freeware) is free of charge but may still be copyrighted, while パブリックドメインソフトウェア has no copyright restrictions at all.
Open-source software has its source code available and may have permissive licenses, but it is not necessarily in the public domain.
Loanword from English 'public domain software'.