@discussthang I think the software I run on my machine is pretty darn real. And to the point where anyone can tell, the source is available. And the license says I am free to do what I want with it.

I'm not sure what you mean by "illusion". Libre licenses are enforced all the time, all over the world. Success rate is probably the same as with fighting piracy, most people get away with it, but it's still a very real-world phenomenon and it's shaping the industry.