Association of Shareware Professionals Approved BBS Standards as of 04/11/93.

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 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ASP Approved status and Associate membership will be withdrawn.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 (BBS-OMB.TXT).

3.3.  The file listings of the BBS must have a short identification of ASP 
member programs.  The notation "<ASP>" 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 cease distributing out-of-date versions of ASP member 
programs if requested by the author.  ASP authors are encouraged to put this 
and other specific requests in a file BBS.DOC or VENDOR.DOC as part of the 
author's software package.

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.  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

A BBS which receives "ASP Approved" status has two different dues options to 
choose from: Standard Level and High Level.  During the first year of 
membership all approved BBSs will automatically receive the benefits of High 
Level Option.  Standard level is seen as covering exactly the cost for these 
ASP benefits, but not the operating costs of ASP.  Both levels receive the 
following benefits:

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.

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 Associate 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.

6.2.0  High Level Option helps to support the organization by covering some 
of the overhead costs of the ASP such as the Executive Director's Office, 
lobbying, etc.  This option shall have the following added benefits:

6.2.1  The ASP Catalog disk will be mailed to these BBSs monthly.

6.3  Each BBS member will have to choose which level they want at each 
membership billing.  For changes at the main billing, services would shift 
effective when the dues payment is received by the ASP office.  At any time 
after that, a member can switch from Standard to High Level option by paying 
the difference in dues in full. The change will be effective as soon as the 
ED can process it.

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.