from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
commercial software
commercial off-the-shelf software
<software> (Or "commercial off-the-shelf software", COTS)
{Software} that is produced for sale. This contrasts with
{free software}, which is produced for free distribution,
meaning without charge and/or without restriction on further
distribution.
Some companies that sell software distribute some (versions)
of products free of charge (but usually with restricted
distribution rights), this would probably still be called
commercial software. Conversely, software that an individual
distributes for free, but for which he accepts donations,
would still be called free software.
(2007-02-07)