Final answer:
The assertion that users must pay a licensing fee for freeware is false. Freeware is available at no monetary cost and without a licensing fee, unlike shareware which may require payment after a trial period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that freeware is software that can be downloaded without any cost, but users must pay a licensing fee prior to the use of the program is false. Freeware is a category of software that is available for use at no monetary cost and without a licensing fee.
Typically, the term freeware applies to software where the user is not required to pay for its continued use, but there may be some restrictions on redistribution or commercial use. It is different from shareware, which may offer a free trial period before requiring a purchase, and from open-source software, which is free to use and modify but is governed by its own licensing terms to ensure its source code remains accessible.