text: what is the difference between commercialisation and privatisation?   privatization, when used with government, means taking a government run program and converting it to private industry.  in some countries, for example, the government owns and operates the railroads.  the government then sells the railroads to individuals or companies, who then own and operate the railroads. commercialization, when used with government, means advertising something that the government once prohibited.  at one time, in the usa, lawyers were not allowed to advertise;  now they are.