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- SOFTWARE ORGANIZATIONS AT A GLANCE
-
- This is a brief summary of some of the currently-active organizations
- which are likely to be of interest to independent software developers and
- publishers.
-
- SHAREWARE TRADE ASSOCIATION AND RESOURCES
-
- Incorporated in 1993, STAR is a nonprofit organization whose purposes
- are to educate past and prospective customers of shareware as to its
- availability and legal nature; gather and disseminate information to
- shareware vendors, publishers, authors and distributors to enable them to
- better evaluate and improve their business methods as they deem best;
- assist the improvement and evolution of the entire shareware industry by
- fostering open communication of ideas, common problems and news relating to
- shareware marketing methods by means of computer bulletin boards, a
- newsletter, and otherwise.
- Developers, distributors and end users are equal members in STAR,
- which does not impose any membership requirements.
- STAR is in the process of acquiring a World Wide Web Home Page and
- space on an Internet server, to assist its members in distributing and
- finding shareware via the Internet. Other activities and benefits include a
- yearly press party at COMDEX, participation in conferences and trade shows,
- involvement in legal issues affecting the industry, a newsletter,
- CompuServe sections, industry and media lists, discounts, and networking
- opportunities.
- Membership dues are now $30 annually. (An increase to $50, plus
- special options, has been proposed.)
- STAR
- 3315 E. Russell Rd. #H-272
- Las Vegas, NV 89120
- CompuServe: GO UKSHARE
- Voice: 800-775-7827
-
-
- ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS
-
- The Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) was the first
- shareware trade association. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in
- 1987, its primary goals are to inform users about shareware programs and
- about shareware as a method of distributing and marketing software; to
- encourage broader distribution of shareware through user groups and disk
- dealers who agree to identify and explain the nature of shareware; to
- assist members in marketing their software; to provide a forum through
- which ASP members may communicate, share ideas, and learn from each other;
- and to foster a high degree of professionalism among shareware authors by
- setting programming, marketing and support standards for ASP members to
- follow.
- The ASP has worked to protect the interests of the shareware community
- through its involvement in legal and political issues, such as copyright
- and trademark issues, and software ratings. Other activities and benefits
- include a monthly shareware CD-ROM, a monthly newsletter, an online
- shareware catalog, a public relations campaign, participation and
- exhibition at trade shows and conferences, a CompuServe forum, and
- networking opportunities.
- Annual dues are based on membership class and range from $50 to $250.
- Supporting member options are available.
- Association of Shareware Professionals
- 545 Grover Rd.
- Muskegon MI 49442-9427
- Voice: 616-788-5131
- Fax: 616-788-2765
- CompuServe: GO ASPFORUM
-
-
- EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE COOPERATIVE
-
- The Educational Software Cooperative (ESC) was founded in 1992 by Andy
- Motes, author of the award-winning "School Mom" program. Incorporated in
- 1994, ESC is a nonprofit organization whose purposes are to advance the
- mutual benefit of authors, publishers, dealers and distributors of
- educational software; to voluntarily cooperate formally and informally with
- each other to better develop, advertise, distribute and sell educational
- software; and to provide the public with information regarding the
- benefits, uses, and availability of educational software.
- The educational software market presents special challenges and
- opportunities. The ESC works to establish dialogue between consumers and
- developers, to assist users in finding the products they need, and to help
- developers understand how to create the kinds of products that will fill
- the needs of the marketplace.
- Benefits and activities include semi-annual publication of a shareware
- CD-ROM, a bimonthly newsletter, participation in conferences and trade
- shows, discounts, a CompuServe section and networking opportunities.
- Basic membership dues are $25 annually. Supporting and lifetime
- options are available.
- Educational Software Cooperative
- 11846 Balboa Blvd, Suite 226
- Granada Hills CA 91344
- CompuServe: GO EDFORUM
-
-
- COMPUTER GAME DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION
-
- The Computer Game Developers Association (CGDA) is a newly-formed
- association of interactive entertainment professionals dedicated to serving
- the careers and interests of its members. Its purposes are to foster
- information exchange among professionals in the industry, to represent the
- community of interactive entertainment developers when policy issues arise
- in industry or government, to increase artistic and financial recognition
- for developers, and to enhance the quality of interactive entertainment and
- educational software.
- Benefits and activities will include conferences, discounts,
- networking opportunities, a newsletter, online resume database, special
- interest groups, educational material, a special GEnie area and a
- CompuServe forum, as well as legal and political activities.
- The CGDA is temporarily being operated by the Computer Game
- Developers' Conference, which is providing financial support, and is
- currently run by a steering committee. When membership increases
- sufficiently, it will be incorporated in the state of California as a
- non-profit organization.
- Membership dues are $75, with a $10 mailing surcharge outside the USA.
- CGDA
- 5339 Prospect Road, Suite 330
- San Jose CA 95129
- Voice: 415-856-4263, extension 5
- CompuServe: GO GAMDEV
-
-
- SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
-
- The Software Publishers Association (SPA) is an international trade
- association for the personal computer software industry. Now in its
- tenth year, the SPA has grown to more than 1100 members, including large
- and small publishers, developers, distributors, retailers, and consultants.
- SPA works to protect members' intellectual property through an
- extensive anti-piracy campaign, and the entire software industry is
- represented on Capitol Hill by their lobbying efforts. They recently worked
- in cooperation with other trade associations on the software ratings issue
- and were instrumental in establishing the Recreational Software Advisory
- Council (RSAC).
- Other activities and benefits include a CompuServe forum, conferences,
- networking, specialized publications, special interest groups, exclusive
- reports, surveys and market research conducted on a regular basis, as well
- as health insurance, discount programs, and sponsorship of awards and
- certificate programs.
- Membership dues are based on income and range from $500 to $25,000.
- Software Publishers Association
- 1730 M St. NW, Suite 700
- Washington DC 20036
- Voice: 202-452-1600
- CompuServe: GO SPAFORUM
-