Free software is software that is distributed free of charge, outside of the proprietary model of ownership.  Most free software is also open source.

From Wealth of Networks:

"...exclusive rights in existing innovation tools and information resources remain a significant barrier to innovation, education, and the use of information-embedded tools and goods in low- and middle-income countries.

As new strategies for the production of information and knowledge are making their outputs available freely for use and continuing innovation by everyone everywhere, the networked information economy can begin to contribute significantly to improvements in human development.

We already see free software and free and open Internet standards playing that role in information technology sectors."