ASP Author Standards (ASPAS)
Adopted July 30, 1995 by an 85% majority.

1.  ASP-compliant products are shareware products, produced by ASP 
Author Members or published by ASP Publisher Members, that satisfy all 
the requirements in this document.  Only ASP-compliant products may use 
the ASP logo or Ombudsman statement.  Only ASP-compliant products may 
refer to the ASP -- whether in the product, documentation, or marketing 
materials -- in any way that might reasonably be interpreted as 
suggesting ASP compliance. ASP-compliant shareware products must be 
created and marketed in a professional manner.  ASP Author and Publisher 
Members must treat the user of the product and the concept of shareware 
with courtesy and respect. 

2.  An ASP-compliant product may limit the user evaluation period. If 
such limitation is used, the product must allow users access to the 
features customary or reasonable for that type of product for a time 
period or number of uses sufficient to allow adequate evaluation by the 
user.  An ASP-compliant product may also use other limiting measures.  
Such measures must not unduly interfere with the evaluation of the 
product.  Users must be notified, while using the program, of the 
impending expiration of the evaluation period.  This notification must 
occur well in advance of any disabling of features or cessation of 
program operation.  All limiting measures must be documented, and such 
notification must refer to that documentation. Users obtaining the 
shareware version of an ASP-compliant product from any source approved 
by the author must be able to install and use the product for the full 
evaluation period. 

3.  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.

4.  An ASP-compliant product must be substantially complete, and accurately
represent the registered version, except in cases where a substantially
complete product would provide little or no reason for the user to register
and pay for the product.  Examples include some games, source code for
programmer's tools, electronically published books, fonts, and clip art
collections.  In those cases, a portion of the product allowing adequate
evaluation of the product may be distributed.  A Non Shareware Version (NSV)
of an ASP-compliant product, which includes advanced features, may also be
offered, in addition to the normal registered version.

5.  When, during evaluation of an ASP-compliant product, a user creates data
that have substantial independent value, the product shall not prevent some
form of access to those data even after the expiration of the evaluation
period.  Such access may or may not require further use of the product itself.

6.  An ASP-compliant product must include some form of documentation
sufficient to allow thorough evaluation of the product's features. Such
documentation must explain how to register and pay for the product and define
the benefits of payment and registration.  It must also describe any
evaluation limitations and differences between the shareware and registered
versions.  This documentation must also describe support policies, and include
the current ASP Ombudsman statement.

7.  An ASP-compliant product must offer some documented method or instructions
for safely removing the product from the user's computer.

8.  An ASP-compliant product must include reasonable technical support for a
minimum of three months after the purchase of the registered version of the
product, without additional payment.

9.  An ASP-compliant product must be conscientiously tested by the author, and
should not be harmful to user data or hardware when properly used on a typical
computer. 

10.  All ASP Author and Publisher Members must market and distribute at least
one ASP-compliant product.  They may also market and distribute products which
are not ASP-compliant, subject to the limitations of Item 1 of this document.

11.  Authors and Publishers applying for membership in the ASP shall submit a
product for examination by the ASP Author Membership Committee.  This product
must meet all requirements in this policy before membership is granted.
Negative decisions of the Author Membership Committee shall be automatically
reviewed by the ASP Board of Directors, whose decision is final.  An author
whose application is rejected may reapply at any time.

12.  All products marketed as ASP-compliant must meet the requirements of this
policy.  The ASP Author Compliance Committee (ACC) is entrusted to make the
sometimes difficult judgments involved in enforcing these requirements. If the
ACC finds that an ASP member's product violates these requirements, that
member must modify the product to comply, or must remove all indications of
compliance.  If the member refuses to make these changes within 30 days (or a
longer alternate period set by the ACC), the ACC may recommend to the Board of
Directors that the member's ASP membership be terminated.

13.  The ASP Board of Directors may not materially change items in this
policy, but may, from time to time, explain, interpret, or clarify these
policies.

14.  The author will keep the ASP apprised of changes in mailing address and
of any changes in the status of his/her programs.