Gratis

For other uses, see Gratis (disambiguation).On the house redirects here. For the mixtape, see Onthe House.Gratis /rts/ or /rets/ is the quality of an action

A Freebox in Berlin, Germany 2005, serving as a distributioncenter for free donated materials

where the action is willingly provided without any re-quirement by the provider for compensation or monetaryremuneration. It is often referred to in English as free ofcharge (FOC), complimentary, or on the house. Com-panies, producers, and service providers often providecertain things free of charge as part of a larger businessmodel, pricing strategy, or as a donation.

1 Etymology

The English term gratis has its origins in late Middle En-glish; from Latin. A contraction of gratiis, meaning 'asa kindness or 'a show of goodwill', which in turn stemsfrom the root gratia meaning 'grace' or 'kindness.[1] Itis widely used in the Afrikaans, Slovakia, Czech, Hun-garian, Croatian, Serbian, Polish, French, Dutch, Span-ish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Indonesian, Swedish,Norwegian, Danish, German and some of the other Ger-manic languages, with the same meaning.

2 Marketing

Main articles: Sales promotion and Sample (material)

In a standard business model where goods and services

are exchanged for a monetary compensation, pricing ofthe goods is a fundamental element of the marketing pro-cess. While it would defeat the business model if compa-nies provide all of their goods and services free of charge,it is common for them to provide limited amount of freegoods in their promotional mix. Many companies oftenprovide free samples to the press in order to generate me-dia coverage for their products. Depending on the prod-uct, companies may provide free samples to prospectivebuyers.In addition, many companies would often providecomplementary goods and services free of charge (i.e., ona complimentary basis). For example, coffeehouses of-ten provide Internet access free of charge to attract morecustomers. Hotels often provide free shuttle services.Restaurants often provide valet parking service free ofcharge.Companies may also distribute branded stationery,refrigerator magnets, or similar items free to promotetheir brand instead of any specific line of products.

2.1 Casinos

Main article: Comps (casino)

Casinos often provide complimentary goods and services,such as alcohol, food and hotel rooms, collectively knownas comps, to high-rolling gamblers in order to encour-age them to gamble longer, therefore increasing the houseadvantage.

3 Mass media

Main articles: Free daily newspaper and Broadcasting

In certain industries, such as the mass media where majorpart of the revenue comes from advertisers, it is often inthe companys interest to reach as many people as possi-ble. In this model, companies would often distribute mostof their products and services free of charge, so they canreach the largest possible audience. The advertising, andnot the sale of the product itself, is the primary revenuesource within these industries.

1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_(disambiguation)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Househttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Househttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remunerationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_modelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_modelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pricing_strategieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_promotionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_(material)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pricinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_mixhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotional_mixhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complementary_goodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeehousehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valet_parkinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationeryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigerator_magnethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comps_(casino)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_advantagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_advantagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_daily_newspaperhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcastinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_media

2 7 REFERENCES

4 Government programs

4.1 Safety

Condoms are provided free of charge by many govern-ments as a way to minimize sexually transmitted infec-tions and to address other public health concerns.

4.2 Recycling

In Austin, Texas, a paint recycling program operated bythe city, Austin ReBlend, provides paint to the local com-munity free of charge.

5 Software

Main articles: Freeware, Gratis versus Libre and Freesoftware

In software development, where the cost of mass pro-duction is relatively small, it is common for developersto publish software under free of charge licenses.One of the early and basic forms of this model is calledfreeware. Under a freeware license, software is licensedfree of charge for regular use and the developer does notgain any monetary compensation.With the development of the software industry, otherlicense schemes arose similar to limited free productsin standard marketing. These licenses offer users lim-ited use, while attempting to recuperate development costthrough the full product. Two common examples areshareware and trialware.With the advent of the free software movement, licenseschemes were created to give developers more freedomin terms of code sharing. A distinction has to be drawnbetween freedom and free of charge, where the lattersometimes also can be referred to as free as in free beer.This distinction is often called Gratis versus Libre.Free-to-play is a growing business model for video gameswhich offers players the ability to play the game for free,but generates revenue throughmicrotransactions, the pur-chase of virtual goods with real money.

6 See also The dictionary definition of gratis at Wiktionary

Pro bono

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch

Free-to-play

Free public transport

7 References[1] Gratis - definition of gratis in English from the Oxford

dictionary. Oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_transmitted_infectionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_transmitted_infectionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin,_Texashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint_recyclinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_ReBlendhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_Librehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_softwarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_softwarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_productionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_productionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharewarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trialwarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software_movementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_Librehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-to-playhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtransactionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_goodshttps://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/gratishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_bonohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ain%2527t_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-to-playhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_public_transporthttp://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0347760#m_en_gb0347760http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0347760#m_en_gb0347760

3

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text Gratis Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis?oldid=651567048 Contributors: Damian Yerrick, Andre Engels, Josh Grosse, Ed-

ward, Voidvector, MartinHarper, Pde, Ahoerstemeier, Mac, Stevenj, TUF-KAT, Tkinias, Johan Magnus, Omegatron, Lord Emsworth,Robbot, ZimZalaBim, Naddy, Diderot, Superm401, Cantus, Tom-, Mooquackwooftweetmeow, Joeblakesley, Vbs, Gleam, Discospinster,YUL89YYZ, Joanjoc, Kwamikagami, Hayabusa future, Nigelj, Remuel, Jumbuck, Angr, Tabletop, Graham87, Elvey, DePiep, Bensin, Gus-lacerda, Eclipsed, Mrtea, AnimeJanai, Some guy, Gilliam, Valley2city, SMP, Victorgrigas, Madman2001, Cybercobra, Derek R Bullamore,Cyzor, Amine Brikci N, JHunterJ, J, Neelix, Cydebot, Chuck Marean, Hebrides, Porlob, JNW, EdBever, DarthBotto, CMBJ, Flyer22,Fishnet37222, Shieber, Tide rolls, , Yobot, Wombletim, AnomieBOT, Anime Addict AA, Osten14, Bellerophon, Pokyrek, Sky-erise, Buddy23Lee, Sumone10154, Polderboy, , ClueBot NG, 149AFK, MerlIwBot, Tholme, Calabe1992, Puramyun31, MarkArsten, ChrisGualtieri, Cinta85, No1inparticularhere and Anonymous: 95

8.2 Images File:Freebox.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Freebox.JPG License: CC0 Contributors: Own work

(Original caption: I (t3xt (talk)) created this work entirely by myself) Original artist: Victorgrigas at en.wikipedia File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0

Contributors:Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:Tkgd2007

8.3 Content license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis?oldid=651567048http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Freebox.JPG//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Victorgrigas//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Victorgrigas//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Victorgrigashttp://en.wikipedia.org/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book.png//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Equazcion//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Tkgd2007http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

EtymologyMarketingCasinos

Mass mediaGovernment programsSafetyRecycling

SoftwareSee alsoReferencesText and image sources, contributors, and licensesTextImagesContent license