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Open-source software is widely used both as independent applications and as components in non-open-source applications. Many
independent software vendors (ISVs),
value-added resellers (VARs), and hardware
vendors (
OEMs or
ODMs) use open-source
frameworks, modules, and
libraries inside their proprietary, for-profit products and services. From the customer's perspective, the ability to use open-source technology under standard commercial terms and support is valuable. Customers are willing to pay for the legal protection (e.g., indemnification from copyright or patent infringement), "commercial-grade QA", and professional support/training/consulting that are typical of commercial software, while also receiving the benefits of fine-grained control and lack of lock-in that come with open source. </onlyinclude>