Message from the President of STAR

By Glen Tippetts 

The Shareware Trade Association and Resources (STAR) was
conceived by Scott Miller and Diana Gruber for various reasons. 
I believe that STAR may have a strong influence on the shareware
industry if it is properly understood what STAR is trying to
accomplish.  Before STAR can be defined the shareware concept
must be defined.  As of this time I know of no unilaterally
agreed upon specific definition of the shareware concept.  I am
not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but I will give my
definition of what I believe shareware to be.

"Shareware is a marketing concept that allows an author, or
publisher, of a computer program to expose the program to a
maximum number of people while incurring a minimum expense. 
Shareware allows a copyrighted program to be distributed freely
without violating any licensing agreement and to be used for a
limited trial period by anyone who cares to use the program. 
Anyone who uses a shareware program beyond the trial period,
determined by the author if displayed in or with the program, is
required to pay for use of the program.  In order to promote
maximum exposure for the program people are allowed to charge
the person receiving the program for the costs directly
associated with duplicating and distributing the program."

It is important to note that the shareware concept was conceived
by software authors some years ago, and that shareware
distributors came about due to an abundance of raw materials
(shareware programs) and a wide open market for the try before
you buy concept related to shareware.  Let me say right now that
I am not opposed to shareware distributors, I believe they are
an intricate part of the shareware concept and provide a
valuable service to the shareware author.  The point is that
when the shareware concept was conceived no shareware
distributors existed, except perhaps Compuserve, and therefore
no consideration was given to the idea of making a profit from
the distribution of shareware.  I believe this situation has yet
to be properly addressed, and has caused a great deal of
friction between authors and distributors.  I hope that one of
the things STAR will be able to promote is a better
understanding of the role of the distributor.  

An item that I hope becomes something STAR strongly supports is
educating the computing public on the existence and advantages
of shareware.  With the proper awareness developed for
shareware, the industry and all those in it will benefit
greatly.

Now to my definition of what I believe STAR should be.  STAR
should be first and foremost a medium for education and
promotion of shareware both inside and outside the industry.  It
should allow for expression of opinion for the betterment of the
industry and it should not supress those with opinions in the
minority.  It should support anyone in the shareware industry
that cares to join STAR.  STAR should not mandate, stipulate,
legislate, or any other ate, the actions or methods used by any
member of the shareware industry.  

I believe that STAR can be a major force in the shareware
industry if given the support and direction it needs.  A few key
people and I are getting STAR on it's feet, it is up to the
future membership of STAR as a whole to guide it in the right
direction.

ŠGlen Tippetts

ŠPresident Shareware Trade Association and Resources (STAR)
ŠPresident OSCS Software Development
ŠPresident Bend Tennis Club

Watch out Ross Perot I'm on a roll.
Oh?.. He did?.. Never mind.


Message from the editor of STARgazer

Thanks, Glenn, for the introduction.  Here's a few words about
STARgazer.

Welcome to Volume 1, Issue 1 of STARgazer, the online magazine
of STAR.  This issue is full of fascinating stories, anecdotes, 
controversy and celebrity guest appearances.  Here's some 
highlights:

Ric Larson, formerly of Shareware Update Magazine, gives us a
humorous account of the celebrated SSS beer run, in which he and
Bud Sadler found themselves caught in some unfortunate weather,
and even worse circumstances.

Mike Callahan, a.k.a. Dr. FileFinder, has written an essay for
us on the importance of shareware registration incentives.  I
hope you find his comments as fascinating as I did.  

An earthquake hit southern California during the construction of
STARgazer, and I immediately got on the phone and called up all
shareware celebrities I know who might have felt the shock.  I 
made them tell me what they were doing when the "big one" hit,
and I reported their stories back to you.

Several authors, including Val Patterson and Mark Herring, give
us their views on how to be successful in shareware.  Bob
Ostrander, former president of the ASP and consultant to PBS,
expresses an opinion on crippleware.

Attorney Charles Kramer has written an essay on why STAR is a 
trade association and what that means to the members of STAR. 
Charles was at the meeting of STAR at the Summer Shareware
Seminar, and the transcripts of that meeting are also included.

If you want a hardcopy of the STARgazer text files, you can
print "*.txt" on your printer.  To join STAR, print the
form "orderfrm.txt".

Building STARgazer, like building STAR, has been hard work and
a great deal of fun.  I have never so much enjoyed channeling
my creative energies into a project.  I hope you will help me
promote STARgazer, and STAR, by distributing this issue of
STARgazer widely.  For more information about STAR, and about
subscribing to STARgazer, see chapter 11, "About STAR".

Finally, let me encourage you to write to STARgazer.  Our
address is P.O. Box 13408, Las Vegas, NV, 89112.  If you
agree or disagree with any of the opinions expressed in 
STARgazer, I want to hear about it.  So do a lot of other people.  
It is only through open discussion and debate that truth can 
be discovered, and the truth will set us all free.

ŠDiana Gruber
ŠEditor, STARgazer