Open source and proprietary are two licensing options the programmer could use to distribute the game. Open source licences typically allow users to download the game free of charge, give them access to the source code, and permit them to change and redistribute that code. Proprietary licences instead require users to pay to purchase the game, do not give access to the source code, and prohibit modification or redistribution.

The legal and ethical issues differ significantly. Both types of software are protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, but a proprietary licence gives the programmer much stronger control over copyright — users cannot legally copy, resell or claim the code as their own. An open source licence allows more people to take the code and possibly change it to resell or adapt in their own programs, which raises an ethical concern that the programmer may not receive credit or income for the work that others profit from. Conversely, releasing the game as open source could be considered more ethical because it makes the game accessible to players who may not be able to afford a paid copy, widening access to entertainment software.

The benefits of open source for this programmer include a wider customer base, more exposure for the game, and the fact that users can alter the program to fix bugs or add features — effectively contributing free improvements. The drawbacks are limited documentation, very little financial gain from the release, and the risk that competitors copy or repackage the game. A proprietary licence offers the opposite trade-off: it allows the programmer to earn money from each sale, gives more control over what happens with the program, and the released version is usually well tested. Its drawbacks are that the customer base is restricted to paying users, the game cannot be adapted to meet user needs without permission, and a higher upfront price may put some players off.

Recommendation. The programmer should release the game as proprietary software. This is because the programmer has invested time developing a complete computer game and a proprietary licence is the only way to earn money from each download, maintain control over what happens to the code, and protect their copyright more strictly. The wider exposure that open source would give is not worth the loss of income and the risk that the code is altered or redistributed without permission. A proprietary release with a reasonable price, combined with marketing and ongoing patches, will give the programmer the best balance of revenue and reputation.