Lightworks is one of the most awarded Video and film editing software. This is what's called a non-linear editing system, or NLE. This means that during the workflow, any image file stored on the hard drives can be accessed, regardless of the order in which it was filmed. Its use is similar to that of a text editor, where "cut and paste" is straightforward.

In recent years, lower-cost software with better advertising platforms, such as Premiere, Final Cut, or Sony Vegas, means that new generations of creators don't even dream of accessing tools at the level of Lightworks.

EditShare, the British company and current owner of the program, has decided to make it free to use. Their plan is to recoup their investment through the sale of plugins and related applications that large-scale projects might require. This way, it won't be necessary to "pirate" software to learn; simply access the company's website and download the application. Such is the company's commitment that Lightworks will even be compatible with Linux, the quintessential free operating system.

The consequences of this decision are far-reaching. EditShare, with its Lightworks product, demonstrates to young people that learning doesn't require resorting to piracy, as the current market tacitly dictates. Whether other companies dare to compete in this way will depend on its commercial success.