Procurement - Concept
Proprietary software
Software controlled by its owner, who restricts access to its underlying code and how it can be used
What's it for?
Lets a vendor keep control of its software while customers pay for permission to use it.
For example…
The company pays to use software whose core code belongs to the supplier
Microsoft Windows is proprietary software: customers licence it for use, but Microsoft controls the source code and product roadmap
Think of it like…
Leasing equipment with sealed internals: you use it under the supplier's terms, not rebuild the engine yourself