Revised: 11 Aug 1995 Dear Author or Shareware Publisher, Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). We take the "ASP" mark as a symbol of distinction, and work to maintain the high standards for the benefit of all our members. Because the procedures for Author and Publisher membership are similar, we have combined the forms and files into one package. Admission to ASP is not automatic. You must demonstrate that one of your products (e.g., a program and related documentation) meets ASP standards; and you must guarantee that, if you are accepted, you will follow the ASP standards and procedures. ========= THE FILES ========= This file, AUTPUB.TXT, contains all of the information you will need to join the ASP. However, you should first review the ASP Author standards contained in AUTSTD.TXT. AUTPUB.FRM is an application form. Detailed instructions for filling it out and submitting it are here in AUTPUB.TXT. You may find the contents of SHAREW.TXT a useful addition to your product's documentation. Feel free to include any or all of it in your docs. ================ WHAT IS THE ASP? ================ The ASP is an association for shareware authors and distributors with the general goals of educating shareware authors and distributors and the public, setting standards and sharing resources and information among members. ================== WHAT IS SHAREWARE? ================== For the ASP's purposes, shareware is software which meets all of the following general criteria: It is a "complete" program, ie: it performs all of the major functions normally expected of a program of its type, unlike a "commercial demo" which normally has a major function disabled. It is copyrighted (as opposed to uncopyrighted software which is "public domain"). It may be copied for others to try, possibly subject to copying restrictions: you might restrict copying in conjunction with any business enterprise; you might place limits on copying for a fee; registration fees may be required from the user as a condition of continued use of the program beyond a trial usage period. (Note that a "$0" registration fee is valid. You might want to distribute "$0 Shareware" to build a mailing list, for example.) ============= THE MECHANICS ============= "How long will it take to become a member?" is a common question. Two to four weeks is typical, but if there are questions or a long reviewer delay, it could take longer. The closer you follow these instructions, the better your chances for submitting a complete, easy to review application package. Your application goes through several steps: 1. The ASP Executive Director ("ED") receives your application and checks it for completeness. Some folks either don't read the application directions carefully, or fail to complete the form, or toppll forget to send in the required versions of their programs. Others even forget the check. 2. Once your application is complete, the ED sends you a notification card in the mail, and uploads your application form to the ASP forum on CompuServe for members of the Author Membership Committee ("AMC"). 3. The AMC assigns a reviewer for your program. There are several potential hang-ups at this stage: (1) Your program's registered version may not be identical to the evaluation version. (2) Registration Reminder Screens (RRS) -- in the evaluation version may be a problem. You are allowed to have RRS, but again they must follow the ASP guidelines. (3) You forgot to include the ombudsman statement in your doc. See the sections below and AUTSTD.TXT for details on these requirements. If your application fails at this point, you will hear from one of the members of Assistant Author Membership Coordinators (AAMC). Your AAMC will work with you to bring your product into compliance. 4. Next, the AAMC reviewer briefly tests your program and writes a review. The review simply notes that the ASP requirements are met. The reviewer will check for obvious bugs, but will not conduct a comprehensive review of the program's functioning itself. Results of the review are posted in the committee section of the ASP CIS forum. This allows other AMC members to comment or discuss problems if need be. Any questions about policy or procedure are immediately passed on to the Board of Directors: the AMC is not a policy-making body. The AMC is given a week to examine your application and the results of the review in detail. 5. Once this last step is completed, you will receive a full membership package in the mail shortly thereafter. If you have a CIS account, you will also receive an email notifying you of acceptance. If your application does not meet ASP standards, it will be referred to the Board of Directors for a re-review and notification. If you disagree with any action of the AMC, you may appeal directly to the Board of Directors, by writing to the Executive Director (address below). If you start feeling frustrated about the delays, keep one thing in mind: with the exception of the "ED", this entire process, beginning to end, is run by volunteers who have myriad demands on their time. ====================== HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ====================== As of Jan 1, 1994, the following rates apply: --------------------------------------------- When you apply, you will send in a check (or authorize a credit card charge) for $100. That amount covers your first year's dues. Technically, it's spread out over four calendar quarters, at $25 per quarter, starting in the quarter your application is submitted. If you apply after the first quarter, any excess is credited towards your second year's dues. As a member you will have unlimited submission rights to the ASP monthly CD ROM mailing. This replaced the previous disk based mailing that cost members $500-800 PER MONTH. ======================== WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN? ======================== Author membership is open to programmers who are authors of at least one product which is currently marketed (or is in final beta test stage) and supported as shareware, who agree to abide by standards adopted by the association, and whose membership, in the judgment of the Membership Committee, will not be detrimental to the goals or reputation of the ASP. Note, while this 'product' is usually a computer program, books, tutorials, clip art collections, et al. can also qualify. Publisher members might not be the author of a program, but have exclusive rights to distribute an application. There are other types of members: CoAuthors, for example, may apply providing at least one of the authors of the product in question is an ASP member. Membership is also open to Vendors and Bulletin Board operators. These other types of members have their own application procedures. Please contact the Executive Director for details (address below). Companies with a controlling interest owned by programmers ALL of whom are ASP Members or CoAuthor Members, are considered Company Members; there is no additional membership fee. Companies with a controlling interest owned only partially by ASP Members are also considered Company Members; there are additional dues of $100 per year, pro-rated by quarter. =============== HOW DO I APPLY? =============== (Please study these instructions carefully. The most common cause of delays is that these instructions are not followed.) A: Read the rest of this document. B: Follow the instructions in this document to answer all the questions in AUTPUB.FRM. We MUST have both an electronic file called AUTPUB.FRM, and a printed version, properly completed, in order to process your application. Be sure the on-disk application file is a plain ASCII file. C: When you complete the application, print it out, then sign and date the printout where indicated. Include this in your application package along with the on-disk copy. D: Print all of your product's documentation files. (Documentation and tutorial material only: not program listings!) This is to make the reviewer's job easier. PLEASE NOTE: If a doc or help file is not normally printed you do not need to include a printed copy. (Eg, many Windows applications have extensive help files that are never printed, but only referenced while running the program.) If you provide a printed manual with the registered edition, include a sample in the submission. E: Put ALL of the following into one package: 1) The file AUTPUB.FRM on disk. 2) A signed and dated printout of the file AUTPUB.FRM 3) Printouts of all of your product's documentation files (If users are expected to print them out) 4) The evaluation version of your program 5) If there is any difference between evaluation and registered versions of your program, also include a copy of the registered version, clearly marked. 6) Any material (such as a manual or a newsletter) that is normally included in the registered version 7) If you have an Non-Shareware Version of your product (see below), the entire retail package 8) Either: A) A check for $100, in U.S. dollars, drawn on a U.S. bank; or, B) The completed credit card charge authorization located at the end of AUTPUB.FRM Mac and Amiga files, may be submitted on any common media for those machines, but should be clearly marked as such. Note that there is a $20 is a non-refundable processing fee if your application is not accepted. The remainder will be refunded. F: Mail the package to: Executive Director Association of Shareware Professionals 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 =========================== THE INSTRUCTIONS =========================== You are to submit one product (e.g., a program and associated documentation) with your application. That product is reviewed to make sure it meets the criteria described in AUTSTD.TXT. You might want to look at the text included in the file SHAREW.TXT, modify it to apply to your product, and include it in your documentation. You'll also need to insert the ASP-required statements into your documents before you submit them with your application. Then the AMC can readily verify that all of your documentation is in order. Remember, though, that you are not permitted to release anything including the ASP logo, Ombudsman statement, etc., unless and until you are formally admitted as a member. At this point, you should take a look at the file AUTPUB.FRM, and follow along as we step you through the form. Incomplete application forms are a major cause of delays. (Note that the following instructions are, by and large, an English translation of the Bylaws of the ASP, Inc., and formal ASP policies, rules and requirements. All of the policies have been passed by at least a 2/3 majority of members. If there are any conflicts between these instructions and the formal legal documents, the formal documents in AUTSTD.TXT take precedence. If you are concerned about precise wording and definitions, please refer to the formal documents.) ============= THE TOP BLOCK ============= Fill in your name and address. If you have access to CompuServe, note your CompuServe i.d. number; we will try to contact you through CompuServe whenever possible, and you should check your CompuServe mail every few days while your application is being processed. CONTACT NUMBER - The ASP publishes various lists that can contain the number to be used for the general public to reach you. Many shareware users will want to contact you before registering to be sure you are still in business and that the address they have for you or the registration price is current. The ASP office receives many calls where users, press, publishers, etc. are trying to reach an author. The "Phone, day" number may be at a daytime job where you do not wish to receive calls pertaining to your shareware business. Your "Phone, evenings" number MAY be the number you wish to use for people to reach you, but we won't give out this number unless you want us to do so. Many authors have a different daytime job and place an answering machine on their home phone with a message asking for an evening or weekend number to return the call. In this case, you will probably have the same number for "Contact" as your "Phone, evenings" number. Or, you may wish to use the "Phone, day" number - you must let us know as we can't decide this for you. DO NOT give us a number that is some other company's that is ONLY used to take your registration orders. This is an optional entry and if you leave it blank we will generally not give out your number. If you check "Yes" on "Mailing List OK", or leave the question blank, your name and address may be provided to outsiders. The mailing list consists solely of names, addresses and the optional Contact number. You may change your choice at any time by notifying the ASP Executive Director in writing. Please indicate the name you commonly use to describe your product. If it's an acronym, you can spell out the name in the Description field. When you describe the program, you may assume a reasonable level of knowledge about computers, but you should indicate any significant requirements or restrictions. For example, Product Name..... 3CPO__________ Description...... An AutoCAD add-on that prints circles ___ under three inches in diameter___________ or, say, Product Name..... FoldEmUp______ Description...... VisualBasic Folder Manager, nests Folders up to 10 deep____________________________ ================ SOFTWARE SUPPORT ================ All ASP members' shareware products must include reasonable technical support, as part of in the purchase price, for a minimum of three months from the date of registration. The support policy must be clearly stated in the shareware documentation -- that is, in BOTH the Freely Distributed and registered versions. Support during the initial period may be one or more of the following: via the mail; by telephone (if this is the only support provided, at a minimum an answering machine must be available 4 hours per day; by BBS or major communications service, providing the shareware product is a communications or communications-related product. The author must answer questions and fix serious bugs during the minimum three month period. For problems involving a specific hardware or software environment or feature, the author may choose not to modify the program. In that case, if a problem is reported within three months after purchase, then the author shall offer to refund the user's purchase price. Any money sent to an author to register an unsupported product shall be promptly returned with an explanation that the product in question is no longer supported. Known incompatibility with other software or hardware, and major or unusual program limitations, must be explicitly noted in the documentation that comes with the evaluation version of the product. Please verify that your support policy meets ASP requirements, and that the policy is clearly stated in your documentation (both registered and evaluation versions). When you are satisfied, check "Yes" on the application form, and describe your policy briefly. ============ REGISTRATION ============ Your documentation must clearly describe how to register the product and what goods and/or services the user will receive for registering. Please verify that your registration policy meets ASP requirements, and that the policy is clearly stated in your documentation (the statement is required in the evaluation version, and recommended in the registered version). When you are satisfied, check "Yes" on the application form. =================== OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT =================== The ASP Board has set up an office of Ombudsman and appointed an ASP member as Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's sole role is to mediate disputes between ASP members and their customers. The Ombudsman reports to the Board situations where s/he feels Board action or knowledge is appropriate. All ASP Members and Associate Members are required to cooperate with the Ombudsman when so requested. The registered and evaluation versions of your ASP-compliant products must contain the following text: "This program is produced by 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 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." The first sentence may be replaced by " is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP)." If a member's company qualifies under the company name policy, the company name may be used instead of . (As noted above, companies with a controlling interest owned by programmers ALL of whom are ASP Members or CoAuthor Members, are considered Company Members; companies with a controlling interest owned only partially by ASP Members are also considered Company Members, although there are additional dues.) ASP-compliant packages of the registered version, essentially identical to those sent to registered shareware users, intended for sale in retail establishments or primarily retail mail order firms need not have an Ombudsman statement included. However, if the version contains any reference to shareware, it must also contain the Ombudsman statement. The Ombudsman statement may not be hidden in a file or other manner which 60% of the Board of Directors regards as obscure. Please verify that you have an Ombudsman statement in your product that meets ASP requirements. When you are satisfied, check "Yes" on the application form. ===================================== REGISTRATION ENCOURAGEMENT PROCEDURES ===================================== This is the most-often-confused part of joining ASP. Please read the standards carefully. The principle behind shareware is "try before you buy." ASP believes that users have a right to try a fully functioning shareware program in their regular computing environment. Read the standards in the AUTSTD.TXT file. Note that there is NO requirement that the shareware and registered versions be identical, just that any differences be consistent with the ASP standards. If your program meets these standards, for both the registered and the evaluation version, check "Yes". Registration Reminder Screens may be used in an ASP-compliant product. Such Registration Reminder Screens must not unduly interfere with the evaluation of the product during the initial evaluation period. The most common type of "registration encouragement procedure" is a Registration Reminder Screen (RRS, also known as a Nag Screen or "commercial"). If you have a Registration Reminder Screen(s), please verify that it (they) meets the above criteria, then fill in the details specified on the application form. If you have a registration encouragement procedure other than an RRS, please explain what it is in the "location in program" field on the application form. ======================= NON-SHAREWARE VERSION ======================= The author may provide a non-shareware version of the program so long as it is not (in the opinion of 60% of the Board of Directors) merely an attempt to circumvent these policies. The NSV should have a different name (e.g., "SmuggyWrap Plus") to minimize confusion between the shareware and commercial versions. The shareware version must be a separate product that meets all ASP standards for support, documentation, etc. NSV may not be represented as a registered version of the shareware. If you sell a retail version of the product that is substantially different from the registered shareware version, please check where indicated. =========== FINAL STEPS =========== You should have an electronic version of AUTPUB.FRM ready to submit. Follow the instructions above ("HOW DO I APPLY?"). Print a copy of AUTPUB.FRM, date and sign it. Bundle everything together and send it to the ASP Executive Director. ================ HOW TO GET HELP! ================ If you have questions about your application, please contact the ASP Executive Director on CompuServe at 72050,1433, Voice 616-788-5131 or FAX 616-788-2765. If you do not have access to CompuServe, mail your questions to: Executive Director Association of Shareware Professionals 545 Grover Road Muskegon MI 49442-9427 USA We look forward to seeing your application.... Steve Estvanik [76703,3046] Author / Publisher Member Committee Chair