A note from Karl Brendel: My apologies to those who may have paid by the minute for transferring these files, and may feel that this particular file does not justify their expense. If you happen to feel that way, please document your expense and send me a statement with your registration payment. We should be able to work something out. Inclusion of this file is an act of my own, not a requirement of the Association of Shareware Professionals ("ASP"). You've seen from my documentation and my screens that I publicize my membership in ASP. I truly believe that ASP has the potential to revolutionize the quality of Shareware programming, the author/ publisher support of Shareware programs, and the quality of the relationship between user and supporter. For that potential to be realized, two things must occur: Capable programmers must join the ASP or, at least, follow its lead, and users must demand the quality of product and support that ASP intends to foster. You are a user, and you may be a programmer. In either, or both, of those roles, you must be aware of ASP in order to realize its benefits both for you and the community of Shareware programmers, publishers, and users. Please take the time to review this file. Then, if you are interested in programming for the Shareware market, consider applying for ASP membership. If you are a user, watch for products of ASP members--and demand ASP standards of all programmers, all publishers, and all vendors. (Especially demand our standards of the conventional companies you do business with. Many of us outperform most of them in the areas of individual support and value for price.) Thanks for putting up with my soapbox. Cheers-- --Karl Press Release announcing the formation of the Association of Shareware Professionals Bellevue, WA, May 18 -- Shareware authors have formed a professional society, the Association of Shareware Professionals, or ASP. Co-chairmen of ASP are Jim Button, author of PC File, and Bob Wallace, author of PC Write. Dozens of additional programs are represented in the organization, including Automenu, Newkey, PC Outline, and ProComm. The distinctive quality of Shareware is that you can copy it freely. You only have to pay for the program if you try it and find that you continue to use it. According to Button: "Shareware is an idea whose time has come. I wish that Andrew Fluegelman could be here to witness the blossoming of his early efforts. I get goose bumps when I think of the creative talent and energy that we've combined into this group." ASP's goals are to inform users about the shareware marketing concept, to set standards for authors, to set guidelines for disk dealers who elect to follow ASP standards, and to help authors in marketing their products in a professional manner. As a minimum requirement, an applicant to ASP must agree to abide by ASP standards, including full disclosure of any known incompatibilities in his programs and acknowledgment of registration. The organization conducts continuous electronic meetings on a forum of Compuserve's IBMNET open only to members of ASP. Membership applications may be downloaded as APPLIC.FRM from Data Library 8 of the IBM Software Forum or may be obtained by writing to: ASP Membership 11058 Main Street, Suite 225 Bellevue, WA 98006 #### Contact: Barry Simon (213) 935-3739 (MCIMAIL: Barry Simon) Neil Rubenking (415) 863-1220 (MCIMAIL: Neil Rubenking) Attachment 1: ASP has formulated the following definition of shareware: Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. SO, Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. Attachment 2: It has the following official statement of purpose: ASP, the Association of Shareware Professionals, was formed in April 1987 to strengthen the future of shareware (user supported software) as an alternative to commercial software. Its members, all of whom are programmers who subscribe to a code of ethics, are committed to the concept of shareware as a method of marketing. ASP's primary goals are: o To inform users about shareware programs and about shareware as a method of distributing and marketing software; o To encourage broader distribution of shareware through user groups and disk dealers 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; and o To foster a high degree of professionalism among shareware authors by setting programming, marketing and support standards for ASP members to follow. Standards of the Association of Shareware Professionals PROGRAMMING STANDARDS: The program meets the ASP's definition of "shareware" (i.e., it is not a commercial demo with major feature disabled, nor a time-limited program). The program has been thoroughly tested by the author and should not be harmful to other files or hardware if used properly. DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS: Sufficient documentation is provided to allow the average user to try all the major functions of the program. Any discussion of the shareware concept and of registration requirements is done in a professional and positive manner. SUPPORT STANDARDS: The member will respond to people who send registration payments, as promised in the program's documentation. At a minimum, the member will acknowledge receipt of all payments. The member will establish a procedure for users to report, and have acknowledged, matters such as bug reports, and will describe such means in the documentation accompanying all versions of the programs. Known incompatibilities with other software or hardware and major or unusual program limitations are noted in the documentation that comes with the shareware (evaluation) program. GENERAL: Members will keep the ASP apprised of changes in mailing address, of which shareware programs they have published and are currently supporting, and of the current version numbers. If a user has a dispute with an ASP member-author, the user may appeal to the ASP to mediate the dispute. Application for Membership in the Association of Shareware Professionals For "slomail," address your application to: Association of Shareware Professionals 325 118th Ave SE, Suite 200 Bellevue, WA 98005 On CompuServe, address your application to Jim Button [71435,2012]. ASP Membership Application (Please do not modify the format of the following block of info.) Your Name........ Company Name..... Street Address... P.O. Box......... City............. State, Ctry, Zip. Phone, day....... Phone, evenings.. CIS PPN.......... MCI & Other...... If you have more than one shareware program, please provide the following information for your "best" shareware program. (This information is for the purpose of determining if the criteria of a "non-trivial, non-demo program" have been met.) Program name..... Shareware price.. Type of program.. Major program features and capacities (limits): See below. Does the "registered version" have features or additional documentation which the "freely distributable version" does not? (If so please list differences below or at the end of this form.) Membership requires that you understand and agree to the following: I ..................... certify - that the above information is correct; - that I will abide by the standards of the ASP; - that if I should ever decide to no longer abide by those standards or by new standards which the ASP may adopt in the future, I will cancel my membership immediately; - that the ASP has the right to cancel the membership of a member at any time; and - that upon cancellation of membership by either party, I will discontinue using any materials, logos, claims of membership, or other benefits which are intended solely for members of the ASP. Signed, Date: