It depends on what you mean by "protection."
Open source software is software that allows the source code to be used. Oftentimes, they are free to use. Open source software is copyrighted.
I prefer open source software.
It depends. Open software is usually free from the restriction of use, registration and licensing associated with propriety (closed) software as offered by Microsoft's Windows. As one who uses nothing but open software, I would say a big 'yes!'
Open source software allows anybody to revise and reformat the software to suit their individual needs. Open source software is usually developed together and publically.
no....because an open source software is distributed for free
The answer is in the question itself. Open-source software has it's source code available to everyone. Closed-source software does not.
Open Source Software Institute was created in 2000.
Anything other than open source software is protected by copyright; shareware and freeware may be free, but are still protected. Software that is purely functional (e.g., assembly code to perform a basic operation) is not copyrightable. Software created by any employee of the US government is not copyrighted in the USA.
solaris is open source
Often, Open Source software is provided free of charge. But always check.
New Open Source application software is introduced every day.
Yes, it is permissible to use open source software for commercial purposes as long as you adhere to the terms of the specific open source license governing that software.