While custom software typically comes with guarantees (if it doesn&#x27;t work, the provider is generally liable to fix it for free.  If it&#x27;s not &quot;finished&quot; on time, it may even pay damages —determined by contract); shrink-wrap software (free or proprietary) generally comes with a nice piece of text saying that if it shreds your hard drive, or lag so much it makes you mad enough to throw yourself out the window, it&#x27;s not their fault.<p>Liability towards one customer is also not the same as liability towards thousands, or even millions of users.