What a bogus and misleading article headline. Just because you can download something for free doesn't mean it is free for you to distribute to share as you like.
Even in the context of the question, the article is not even talking about “freeware” here, the article is talking about “software that you can download for free from Dell’s website right now.”
When you download something for free from a website, there are usually specific terms and conditions on how you can use it. That's not the same as “freeware.”
Just to clarify my answer, based on the comments, I still stand behind my original comment that just because you can download something for free, does not make it “freeware.”
In the case of downloading the backup OEM software from Dell, as mentioned in the article, I would not classify that as “complete and functional software that does not require payment or other compensation” as defined below.
freeware (computing) Complete and functional software that does not require payment or other compensation (such as nags or advertising) for its use. Freeware may be a proprietary license with no access to the source code.
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/freeware
https://www.howtogeek.com/254042/the-freeware-download-sites-that-dont-force-crapware-on-you/
And to clarify further “a Dell OEM restore CD” is not “Free Repair Software.” It is a backup disk. You have already paid for the license to the OS software with purchase of your computer.
I stand behind what I said, simply being able to download something for free from a website does not mean it is freeware. Freeware means “Complete and functional software that does not require payment or other compensation (such as nags or advertising) for its use.” In the case of the Dell OEM downloads mentioned in the article, that is attached to a software license. It is not freeware.
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