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PERSONAL CALENDAR (PC) FOR DOS Version 14.41
FILE SHARWARE.DOC 10 Mar 1992
What is Shareware? What is the ASP?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 1985-1992 by Paul Munoz-Colman. All rights reserved.
┌─────────┐
┌─────┴───┐ │ (R)
──│ │o │──────────────────
│ ┌─────┴╨──┐ │ Association of
│ │ │─┘ Shareware
└───│ o │ Professionals
──────│ ║ │────────────────────
└────╨────┘ MEMBER
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Paul Muñoz-Colman │ TECHNICAL SUPPORT: │ CREDIT CARD ORDERS: ║
║ FunStuff Software │ Voice 703-435-1110 │ Voice 800-242-4775 ║
║ 11645 Charter Oak Court │ 703-693-5227 │ FAX 713-524-6398 ║
║ Suite 201 │ FAX 703-435-3130 │ CompuServe 71355,470 ║
║ Reston, VA 22090-4526 USA │ CompuServe 71141,1224 │ or !GO SE (the MALL) ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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 Personal Calendar, see the README.DOC
file contained in the archive, and the Help Text within the program itself.
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.
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.
How absurd!
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.
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.
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.
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:
ASP Executive Director
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442-9427
U.S.A.
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to:
ASP Executive Director 72050,1433
You may also FAX your request to the ASP Executive Director at 616-788-2765.
ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT.
Paul Muñoz-Colman 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
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.
If you would like to learn more, here is one of the best books ever written
about Shareware:
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.
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