Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!marob!manes
From: manes@marob.MASA.COM (Steve Manes)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Commercial software in comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Message-ID: <593@marob.MASA.COM>
Date: 19 Mar 89 12:41:53 GMT
References: <6203@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: ESCC  New York City
Lines: 45

From article <6203@bsu-cs.UUCP>, by dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi):
> My feeling is that no matter how many people want to use a program
> illegally, that *cannot* be considered a factor in favor of posting the
> program.  We must *only* count those people who want to use the program
> in accordance with copyright law.  And my contention is that if payment
> is legally required, that number becomes infinitesimally small and no
> longer justifies posting that program.

I sent your message concerning posting of commercial software to the Net
to ASP (Association of Shareware Professionals) and got a response back
this morning from ASP president, Barry Simon.

	"While it is not official ASP policy (quite) our position has
	always been that our copyrights give us the legal right to be
	paid after the trial period.  The CIC is batting around the idea
	that the words "voluntary payment" and "donation" be officially
	banned [in ASP-member software -ed].
	
	"I think you'll find that the majority of members have language
	in their docs **requiring** payments after n days.  While it may
	not say legal obligation, it's sure implied".

I think ASP is moving towards a vote on the above within the next few
weeks.  If it passes, as I think it will comfortably, ASP may require
members to use more affirmative "try before you buy" wording in their
documentation, eliminating the "if you want to send me $x I'll be your
friend for life" kind of statement.  If this happens, all ASP Shareware
will probably be unacceptable here.  That would be regrettable considering
the caliber and quantity of user-supported software represented by ASP
members and the efforts by ASP to clean up this market.

For instance, last month ASP created an ombudsman to handle user
complaints against an ASP member and is now requiring all ASP Shareware
to carry a standard notice informing the user how to file a grievance if
s/he can't get satisfaction from the author.  There is also a vote
pending on the banning of so-called Crippleware and guaranteeing users
that the Shareware version==Registered version.  It would forbid members
from withholding program features, distributing old versions of the
program, supplying sketchy documentation or annoying users with overly
aggressive "beg screens".  A straw vote here indicates that this will
also pass handily, albeit possibly at the loss of a member or two. 
-- 
Steve Manes            Roxy Recorders, Inc.             Magpie-HQ BBS
UUCP : {rutgers|cmcl2}!hombre!magpie!manes              (212)420-0527
Smail: manes@MASA.COM