



                    Approved Vendor Standards
          Approved Vendor Standards as of December, 1993
 
1.0   Introduction
 
      This document sets forth standards for a Shareware disk vendor to
      receive and maintain an "Approved" status from the Association of
      Shareware Professionals (ASP).  Section 2.0 provides a general set of
      requirements, while specific standards involving advertising,
      newsletters and catalogs, and distribution are covered in sections 3.0,
      4.0, and 5.0.  Finally, the benefits of obtaining ASP endorsement are
      listed in section 6.0.

2.0  Receiving and Maintaining ASP Approved Status
 
      In order for a Shareware disk vendor to receive and maintain ASP
      approved status, the following standards must be met.

      2.1.        The vendor must fill out an application form stating his/her
                  willingness to abide by the ASP standards set forth in this
                  document and applying for Associate membership.

      2.2.        The vendor must submit sample catalogs, newsletters, etc.
                  with his/her application to prove compliance with ASP
                  standards.  The vendor will include a main ASP office on
                  their catalog / newsletter mailing list for verification of
                  continued compliance.

      2.3.        A vendor will be given a warning if he/she fails to meet one
                  or more of the standards.  If the vendor does not rectify
                  the problem in a reasonable amount of time, ASP Approved
                  status and Associate membership will be withdrawn.

      2.4.        If ASP membership ceases for any reason, the vendor MUST
                  cease using the ASP name in any way.  Other benefits of
                  membership will also cease.


3.0  Vendor Advertising

      All vendor advertisements and brochures that:

      1.    offer Shareware for sale and list a price, or

      2.    offer Shareware as a promotion for any commercial venture, or

      3.    use Shareware as an enticement for the user to pay for any product
            or service must state that "Shareware programs require separate
            payment to authors if found useful".  This explanation must
            immediately follow the price (including "free" if used) or be tied
            to the price with an asterisk.  The wording may be changed with
            PRIOR WRITTEN approval from ASP.







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                      ASP Approved Vendor Standards

4.0  Vendor Catalogs
 
      4.1   Approved vendors will identify ASP member's programs with an "ASP"
            notation and an explanation such as:  "The notation 'ASP'
            indicates the program complies with the standards of the
            Association of Shareware Professionals."

      4.2   Approved vendors will make an attempt to educate users on the
            nature of Shareware.  The following statement must be present in
            catalogs and on the OUTSIDE of any pre-packaged ("rack") wrappers:

            "Shareware is an exciting marketing method which allows you to try
            top-quality software before you pay the author. With Shareware,
            you cannot be disappointed spending money for a program that's not
            right for you. The small fee you pay to us covers only the
            duplication and distribution costs, and permits you to evaluate
            the program."

            "If you continue to use the program, you must send the author
            an additional payment which may entitle you to technical support,
            printed manual, bonus programs, and more. Your payment supports
            authors, enabling them to continue writing newer and better
            Shareware programs."

      4.3   Ombudsman statement: If the ASP logo or name is used by any ASP
            approved vendor in any ads/catalogs etc , then that vendor must
            include the following statement with their catalogs and
            newsletters and is encouraged to include it with all disks sold:

            "Company X is an approved vendor and associate 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
            Mail message to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."

            4.3.1       Background on the Ombudsman:  Here are the two aspects
                        of the institution of relevance to vendor members (ASP
                        authors also include a statement similar to that in
                        4.3 with their programs if they use the ASP logo):

                        1.  The board shall set up the office of Ombudsman and
                        appoint someone to that position.  The Ombudsman's
                        sole role shall be to mediate disputes between ASP
                        members and their customers.  The Ombudsman shall
                        report to the board situations where he feels board
                        action or knowledge is appropriate.

                        2.  All ASP members and vendor associate members are
                        required to cooperate with the Ombudsman when
                        approached by him/her.


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                      ASP Approved Vendor Standards

5.0  Vendor Distribution
 
      5.1   Approved vendors will respect the copyright and all distribution
            restrictions made by individual authors, even if those
            restrictions are not specifically covered in this document.  ASP
            authors shall place author's restrictions and authorizations in a
            file called VENDOR.DOC and/or VENDINFO.DIZ on their distribution
            disk.

      5.2   Approved vendors will provide the written notice presented in
            section 4.2 above with all Shareware programs shipped.  If the
            vendor distributes Shareware in pre-packaged wrappers, then this
            notice must be on the OUTSIDE (visible) part of the package. 
            Approved vendors will not claim to be selling programs except in
            situations where they are an authorized dealer for a shareware
            program and the distinction between duplication fees for trial
            programs and full licensing is made clear.

      5.3   Approved vendors will not change or delete ANY files supplied with
            the program unless specifically authorized to in the author's
            documentation or with the author's prior written authorization. 
            Vendors may make small additions which are designed to assist or
            provide a service to the user (unless prohibited by the author). 
            Unless specifically disallowed by the author, vendors may place
            the authors files into a compressed or library format and may
            include the program on a disk with programs by others. ASP
            author's restrictions and authorization relevant to this section
            shall appear in the VENDOR.DOC and/or VENDINFO.DIZ file(s)
            mentioned in section 5.1

      5.4   Approved vendors also agree to stop distributing a program
            including earlier versions requested by the author.

      5.5   If a vendor member accepts a shareware program for distribution
            and receives a new version of that program directly from the
            author, then within ninety days (and if possible within thirty
            days), the vendor shall remove the old version from distribution,
            either replacing it with the new version or dropping the program. 
            Similarly, a vendor must comply with an author's request to drop a
            program immediately.  Exceptions are only allowed with the written
            permission of the author.

      5.6   Approved Vendors who provide shareware disks wholesale to the
            retail store trade must provide those disks or disk sets in a
            final packaged and sealed condition.  The notices mentioned in
            sections 4.2 and 5.2 apply to these packages.  Signs containing
            this language are also encouraged on display racks.










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                      ASP Approved Vendor Standards

5.0  Vendor Distribution (Continued)

      5.7   At booths of Approved Vendors or their representatives at Flea
            Markets, Conventions, Computer Fairs and other gatherings where
            disks are sold customers must be informed of the need to register
            shareware by one of the following means:

            1.    A sign of a size that is readable from the customer's point
                  of view, must be displayed.

            2.    Wording on printed packaging or disk sleeves used to hold
                  the actual disks.

            3.    A brochure or vendor catalog included with every purchase.

            The materials must carry the notices outlined in sections 4.2 and
            5.2.

      5.8   Vendor Licencees

            Any ASP Vendor who authorizes distribution of materials by other
            vendors or distributors (licensees) must supply their licensees
            with written copies of all ASP Vendor Requirements and instruct
            the licensee that the grant of rights from the ASP Vendor to the
            licensee is subject to compliance by the licensee with these
            requirements.

            Additionally, it must be explained to the licensee that their
            arrangement does not grant them ASP membership or approval.

            Use of the ASP name and/or logo will remain limited to only those
            materials produced by and identified as belonging to the ASP
            Vendor Member.

            These provisions shall not prevent licensees from applying for and
            obtaining ASP Approved Vendor status.


      5.9   CD-ROM Vendors

            If you produce CD-ROMs of shareware, you must show the date of
            release on the disk label.  The accompanying literature must
            contain the shareware description, the ASP Ombudsman statement and
            the statement of registration requirements.  If you have not yet
            actually produced the CD-ROM, you can submit a 1.44m disk showing
            the "front end" software with the opening screens, so we can see
            how you handle the description of shareware and the need to
            register and how you mark the ASP authored shareware selections on
            the menus.








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                      ASP Approved Vendor Standards

6.0  Approved Vendor Benefits
 
      A Shareware disk vendor who receives "ASP Approved" status will receive
      the following benefits:

      1. ASP members will be urged to allow ONLY ASP approved vendors to
      distribute their programs.  Of course, each author runs his/her own
      business and can send to non-ASP vendors to distribute the programs if
      he/she desires to do so.

      2. Approved vendors may use "ASP Approved Vendor", "Approved Vendor of
      the Association of Shareware Professionals", or the ASP Approved Vendor
      logo in advertising, catalogs, etc.

      3. ASP Authors will be urged to automatically provide Approved vendors
      with program updates and notification of problems with programs.

      4. Approved vendors will regularly receive a list of the current version
      numbers of ASP members programs, so that they may keep their library up
      to date.  This will be on the Monthly ASP CD-ROM.

      5. Approved vendors will receive the ASP Newsletter.

      6. Approved vendors will also benefit by ASP publicity in which readers
      will be told to look for ASP-approved vendors.

      7. Approved vendors will be Associate members in the ASP.

      8. Approved vendors will benefit from the public relations aspects of
      the institution of Ombudsman.

      9. Vendor members receive a CD-ROM disk containing all of the shareware
      products of those ASP authors that have submitted their products for
      inclusion on the ASP CD.  Current plans call for this CD to be issued
      each month.


To obtain the ASP full Vendor Application kit, write or call the ASP at:

      Association of Shareware Professionals
      545 Grover Road
      Muskegon  MI  49442-9427  USA

      Voice: 616-788-5131  9 A.M to 5 P.M Eastern Time M-F
        FAX: 616-788-2765
      CompuServe: 72050,1433











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