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1992-10-11
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┌╦═══╦┐ ┌╦═══╦┐ ┌╦ ╦┐ ┌╔═══╦┐ ┌╦═══╦┐
│╠═══╩┘ │║ ║│ │║╔╩╗║│ ├╬═══ │╠══╦╩┘
└╩ └╩═══╩┘ └╩╝ ╚╩┘ └╩═══╩┘ └╩ ╚═┘
Version 1.0
Copyright 1991-1992 Michael D. O'Connor
All Rights Reserved
┌─────────┐
┌─────┴───┐ │ (R)
──│ │o │──────────────────
│ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of
│ │ │─┘ Shareware
└───│ o │ Professionals
──────│ ║ │────────────────────
└────╨────┘ MEMBER
┌───────────────────┐
│ FILE SHARWARE.DOC │
└───────────────────┘
INTRODUCTION
────────────
SHARWARE.DOC contains information about the Shareware (try before
you buy) concept of software marketing and the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP). For additional information on
Power, see the README.1ST file contained in the archive.
SOME DEFINITIONS
────────────────
You've probably heard the terms "public domain", "freeware",
"Shareware", and others. Your favorite BBS or disk vendor
probably has many programs described by one or more of these
words. There's a lot of confusion about these, but they have
specific meanings. If you understand them, you'll know your
obligations are for each type of program.
PUBLIC DOMAIN has a very specific legal meaning. The creator of
the software had legal ownership, and gave it up to "dedicate the
work to the public domain". Once in the public domain, anyone
can use it any way they choose. The author no longer has control
and can't demand payment.
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If you find a program in the public domain, you are free to use
it as you choose. Be careful: programs are often referred to as
"public domain" when they are really Shareware or free
copyrighted software. To be sure, the author must include the
explicit dedication statement.
COPYRIGHTED is the opposite of public domain. The author has
asserted the legal right to control use and distribution by
placing required notices in the program and documentation. The
law gives broad rights to restrict how the work is distributed,
and provides penalties for those who violate the restrictions.
When you find a copyrighted program (such as this one), you must
use it within the restrictions. Usually, these are clearly
stated. Maintaining a copyright does not necessarily imply
charging a fee (the program can be distributed for free). This
does not mean public domain, a common confusion.
SHAREWARE is copyrighted software which is distributed by through
bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors, user groups, and
copies passed among friends. It is software which you use and
evaluate before paying for it.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ This makes Shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees! │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
THE SHAREWARE CONCEPT
─────────────────────
Most guarantees work like this: you pay and have time to try it
and see if you like it. If you don't like it, or find that it's
not suitable, you return it undamaged. At some point (perhaps
months) you get your money back. Some companies won't even let
you try the product! In order to qualify for a refund, the
diskette envelope must have an unbroken seal.
Shareware is very different. With Shareware you get to use it
for a limited time, without spending a penny. You can use the
software on your own system in your own special environment, with
no sales people looking. If you decide to discontinue it, you
throw it away and forget about it. No paperwork, phone calls, or
correspondence. If you do continue using it, then and only then
must you pay for it.
Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software.
Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers just like
retail software. There is good and bad Shareware, and good and
bad retail software. The primary difference is that with
Shareware you know if it's good or bad BEFORE you pay.
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You benefit because you get to use the software before you pay
for it, and authors benefit because they are able to get their
products into your hands without the tens of thousands of dollars
in expenses it takes to launch a retail product. There are many
programs on the market today which would never be available
without this marketing method.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ The survival of and continued availability of quality │
│ Shareware products depends on your willingness to pay the │
│ registration fees for the Shareware you use. Please show │
│ your support by registering those programs and by passing │
│ them on to others! │
│ │
│ Shareware is kept alive by YOUR support! │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
THE ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS (ASP)
────────────────────────────────────────────────
┌─────────┐
┌─────┴───┐ │ (R)
──│ │o │──────────────────
│ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of
│ │ │─┘ Shareware
└───│ o │ Professionals
──────│ ║ │────────────────────
└────╨────┘ MEMBER
In the early days of Shareware there were no real standards.
Independent authors had no good way to learn from each other or
to work together to improve the overall image of Shareware.
There was no system to ensure that users were treated fairly and
professionally. There was no way for users to find an address
for an author who had moved. In short, the Shareware community
was disorganized, as each author did things the way he or she
thought best. If Shareware was ever to become a viable and
respected marketing alternative, there had to be some
standardization and guidelines to best serve the users.
In 1987 a handful of Shareware authors founded the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP) industry association with several
primary goals in mind, including:
o To inform users about Shareware programs and as a
method of distributing and marketing software.
o To foster a high degree of professionalism among
Shareware authors by setting programming,
marketing, and support standards for ASP members to
follow.
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o To encourage broader distribution of Shareware
through user groups and disk vendors who agree to
identify and explain the nature of Shareware.
o To assist members in marketing their software.
o To provide a forum through which ASP members may
communicate, share ideas, and learn from each
other.
The newly formed ASP worked together to draft a code of ethics
for all present and future members. This code of ethics included
several requirements that soon became very popular among users
(customers), including:
o A member's program (evaluation version) could not
be limited (crippled) in any way. In the true
spirit of Try-Before-You-Buy, users must be able to
evaluate all the features before paying the
registration fee.
o Members must respond to every registration. At the
very least they must send a receipt for the
payment.
o Members must provide technical support for their
products for at least 90 days from the date of
registration.
A new system helped ensure users were treated fairly and
professionally. If a user was unable to resolve a problem with a
member author then the user could contact the ASP Ombudsman with
their complaint. The Ombudsman would then try to help resolve
the dispute. For more complete details regarding the Ombudsman,
please refer to the "ASP Ombudsman Statement" below.
As of this date, the ASP has approximately 400 author members,
225 vendor members, and 150 BBS members, with new members joining
every week.
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CONTACTING ASP MEMBERS VIA COMPUSERVE
─────────────────────────────────────
There is an easy and convenient way to speak directly to many ASP
Members (authors, vendors, and BBS members). Visit the Shareware
forum on CompuServe. Simply type "GO SHAREWARE", "GO SHARE", or
"GO ASPFORUM" from any CompuServe "!" prompt.
Here you can talk to the authors of your favorite Shareware
programs, learn about other programs, ask questions, make
suggestions, and much more. We'd love to meet you online, please
come visit us today!
AUTHOR ADDRESS CHANGES
──────────────────────
People move. Forwarding orders expire. What can you do?
"I got a copy of a Shareware program written by an ASP
Member. I sent in the registration fee and the post
office returned my letter saying that it was
undeliverable. Now what do I do?"
If the author has moved, chances are very good that you have an
old version of the program. This is another situation that the
ASP can help resolve. ASP Members are required to keep ASP
informed of address changes. If you need the current address for
a member, simply write to the following address shown in the next
paragraph entitled ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT.
ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT
───────────────────────
Michael D. O'Connor is a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the Shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
Shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the
member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can
help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but
does not provide technical support for members' products.
Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at:
ASP Ombudsman
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442-9427
U.S.A.
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to:
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536
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The OMB may be contacted by FAX by sending to the ASP FAX number
616-788-2765. In communication with the OMB please include a
telephone number and/or FAX if available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHAREWARE
─────────────────────────────────
If you would like to learn more about shareware, here is one of
the best books ever written about it:
Dr. File Finder's Guide to Shareware
────────────────────────────────────
By Mike Callahan and Nick Anis. Foreword by John C. Dvorak.
"[Mike's] book distills thousands of hours of his online
search for the crown jewels of Shareware into one usable
guide. As such, it may be the most valuable computer
book you'll ever buy."
--Jack Rickard, Publisher, Boardwatch Magazine
"No one combines Dr. File Finder's comprehensive
knowledge of the Shareware genre with his good taste in
software. This is sure to be the definitive place to
look for insight and program information."
--Barry Simon, Past Chairman of the Board of the
Association of Shareware Professionals, PC Magazine
Columnist, and Coauthor of Stackey, Batutil, and Ctrlalt
"GREAT! Every PC user will find something of value
within these pages. This book will save you a bundle."
--Alfred Glossbrenner
"If I were going to buy only one computer book, this
would be it."
--Tom Scott, Publisher, Telecomputing Magazine
Nobody knows Shareware like the illustrious Dr. File Finder, also
known as Mike Callahan. Now you can learn about dozens of
leading Shareware programs, including where and how to get them.
In the true spirit of Shareware, this book/disk package includes
a disk full of top programs that you can try out yourself before
registering. Send in the card at the back of the book and you'll
get two additional disks with more software.
Mike is the world's leading authority on Shareware. He regularly
accesses thousands of BBSs and has been a major force in
promoting the top Shareware packages. Mike has spent several
years and tens of thousands of hours helping people around the
world learn more about Shareware.
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Nick Anis is the coauthor of several acclaimed Dvorak*Osborne
bestsellers, including Dvorak's Guide to PC Telecommunications,
Dvorak's Guide to Desktop Telecommunications, and Glossbrenner's
Complete Hard Disk Handbook.
$39.95, ISBN: 0-07-881646-7, 950 pp. 7 3/8 x
9 1/4. If not available call 1-800-227-0900
(M-F, 8:30-4:30 Pacific time).
END OF FILE SHARWARE.DOC
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