Association of Shareware Professionals Approved BBS Standards as of 30-Aug-93. 1.0. Introduction This document sets forth standards for an Electronic Bulletin Board System (BBS) to receive and maintain an "Approved" status from the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). 2.0. Receiving and Maintaining ASP Approved Status In order for a BBS to receive and maintain ASP Approved status, the following standards must be met: 2.1. The BBS operator (SYSOP) must fill out an application form stating his/her willingness to abide by ASP standards set forth in the document and applying for Associate membership in the ASP. 2.2. The SYSOP must allow for initial and follow-up access to the BBS for the purpose of verifying compliance with ASP standards. The SYSOP will provide a specific access name and password on the application for use by an ASP inspector. This will be used only for official ASP business and will be kept strictly confidential by the ASP. This "user" must have normal access given to BBS users or subscribers. It must allow access to all functions and download libraries that contain shareware. Access to special message, software support, and areas reserved for private purposes is not required. 2.3 The application for ASP Approved status and Associate membership will be rejected if the BBS system has failed to meet or comply with any of the standards or requirements. Following approval of the membership application, the SYSOP will be given a warning if he/she fails to meet one or more of the standards. If the problem is not rectified in a reasonable time, the ASP Approved status and Associate membership will be withdrawn. 2.4. If ASP membership ceases for any reason, the BBS must cease using the ASP name and trademarked logo in any way. Other benefits of membership will also cease. 2.5. The principals of the BBS are held to the decisions of the ASP Ombudsman and are required to cooperate with the Ombudsman when approached by him/her. 2.5.1. Background on the Ombudsman: The Ombudsman's sole role is to mediate disputes between all ASP members (Authors and associate members alike) and their customers. The Ombudsman reports to the board situations where he feels board action or knowledge is appropriate. 3.0. Shareware Information on the BBS. 3.1. The BBS must maintain bulletins or other informative banners readable by all who access the BBS that explain what shareware is and who the ASP is. Files of the suggested ASCII text of these bulletins are included in the BBS membership application package, and should be in place prior to the ASP evaluation. 3.2 The BBS must maintain the ASP BBS Ombudsman Statement as either an online bulletin or a downloadable text file, as per the instructions set forth in the policy statement (ASPOMB.TXT). 3.3. The file listings of the BBS must have a short identification of ASP member programs. The notation "" is recommended following the program name, although other methods might be equally suitable. 4.0. Other Requirements. 4.1. The use of the terms "FREE SOFTWARE" and the like must not be used in conjunction with any shareware products. 4.2. An ASP Approved BBS must not knowingly post for downloading software that is illegal for distribution in this manner. Any such software must be immediately removed when found. This includes retail-only products as well as any other copyrighted material (including shareware) that is restricted from distribution by the author or copyright owner. 4.3. SYSOPs will not change or delete ANY files supplied with the program unless specifically authorized in the author's documentation or with the author's prior authorization. Archiving files for downloading is encouraged. All files supplied by the author must be contained in the archive(s). 4.4 The BBS will not distribute multiple versions of products, or any products which are known to be outdated/obsolete products. 4.41 Prior to applying for ASP membership, the sysop of the BBS should perform a system-wide maintenance operation in their file libraries to 1) remove any unnecessary versions of products (i.e. if there are multiple versions of a single product online, all but the most recent version of that product is to be removed), and 2) remove any products that are known to be obsolete or discontinued. This requirement applies equally to both ASP and non-ASP products. Products contained on CD-ROM discs will be exempt from this requirement, although the sysop is strongly encouraged to perform these maintenance routines on those file areas as well. 4.42 Following acceptance as a member of the ASP, the sysop of the BBS must establish and perform routine maintenance operations in order to keep the BBS file libraries in compliance with item 4.1 above. Such operations are to be performed once/month at minimum, but ongoing/daily maintenance is strongly recommended. 5.0. BBS Approval process. 5.1. Upon submission of the application form, an assignee of the ASP will log onto the BBS to certify compliance with the standards set forth in sections 3 and 4 above. If any deficiencies are found, the SYSOP will be notified and a second check may follow after appropriate fixes are made. If any of the specified requirements have not been met or addressed, the application shall be rejected, and the sysop will be invited to reapply once they have prepared their system according to the documentation contained in the membership application package. In either case, a recommendation will be made to the ASP board for approval or disapproval and the SYSOP will be notified of the results. 5.2. Appeal of these results may be made by the SYSOP directly to the board of the ASP. 6.0. Benefits of being an ASP Approved BBS 6.1.1 ASP members will be encouraged to send updated disks or uploads to approved BBSs. The mailing list of Approved BBSs will be made available to all ASP member authors. Additionally any ASP-sponsored distribution of members' software will be sent to Approved BBSs - at the present time a monthly CD-ROM of ASP authors' software in PKZIP format is sent to all BBS and Vendor members. This also includes a full catalog of ASP members' products. 6.1.2 Approved BBSs may use "ASP Approved BBS", "Approved BBS of the Association of Shareware Professionals", or the ASP Approved BBS logo. 6.1.3. Approved BBSs will receive the printed ASP Newsletter, "ASPects". 6.1.4. Approved BBSs will also benefit by ASP publicity in which readers will be told to look for ASP Approved BBSs. 6.1.5. Approved BBSs will be Members in the ASP. This is a non-voting member status. 6.1.6. Approved BBSs will benefit from the public relations aspects of the institution of Ombudsman. 6.1.7. Approved BBSs will be listed in a register of ASP Approved BBSs distributed to members and other interested parties. 7.0. A special category of ASP Author BBS allows ASP Author members to post the "ASP Approved BBS" wording or logo on support BBSs. The benefits described in points 6.1.1, 6.1.3 and 6.1.7 above will not apply. There is no charge for this category of member.