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- ASP VENDOR REQUIREMENTS
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- 1.0 Introduction
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- 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.
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- 2.0 Receiving and Maintaining ASP Approved Status
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- In order for a Shareware disk vendor to receive and maintain
- ASP approved status, the following standards must be met.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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- Associate membership will be withdrawn.
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- 2.4 If ASP membership ceases for any reason, the vendor will
- cease MUST cease using the ASP name in any way. Other benefits
- of membership will also cease.
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- 3.0 Vendor Advertising
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- 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 Vendor Requirements - 2
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- 4.0 Vendor Catalogs
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- 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."
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- 4.2 Approved vendors will make an attempt to educate users on
- the nature of Shareware. Although this can be written in the
- vendor's own words, it must address the following concepts.
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- 4.2.1 The fee paid to the vendor is a distribution charge and
- does not cover the cost of the program itself.
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- 4.2.2 If the user finds a Shareware program to be of use,
- he/she is expected to send the registration fee to the author.
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- 4.2.3 Registration entitles the user to various rights and
- benefits (depending on the author). These range from the legal
- right to continue using the software, to printed documentation
- and/or higher levels of service.
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- 5.0 Vendor Distribution
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- 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 on their distribution disk.
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- 5.2 Approved vendors will provide a written notice covering
- the three (3) concepts 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.
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- 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 file
- mentioned in section 5.1
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- 5.4 Approved vendors also agree to stop distributing a
- program including earlier versions requested by the author.
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- ASP Vendor Requirements - 3
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- 6.0 Approved Vendor Benefits
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- A Shareware disk vendor who receives "ASP Approved" status
- will receive the following benefits:
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- 1. ASP members will be urged to allow ONLY ASP approved
- vendors to distribute their programs.
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- 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.
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- 3. ASP Authors will be urged to provide Approved vendors with
- automatic program updates, and notification of problems with
- programs.
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- 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.
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- 5. Approved vendors will receive the ASP Newsletter.
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- 6. Approved vendors will also benefit by ASP publicity in
- which readers will be told to look for ASP-approved vendors.
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- 7. Approved vendors will be Associate members in the ASP.
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- ASP Vendor Requirements - 4
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- =================================================================
- VENDOR APPLICATION FORM
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- THIS IS A FORM FOR A DISK VENDOR TO APPLY FOR ASSOCIATE
- MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS AND TO
- OBTAIN "ASP APPROVED VENDOR" STATUS
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- By signing this vendor application form, we agree to abide by
- the standards set up by the Association of Shareware
- Professionals (ASP) in the Vendor Standards Document and we apply
- for associate membership in ASP.
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- We have enclosed copies of current catalogs, advertising,
- newsletters, etc. to demonstrate our willingness to comply with
- these standards.
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- We understand that Associate members have a dues
- responsibility currently at $50/years which can be changed by a
- vote of the ASP full members.
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- We agree to send one (1) copy of every catalog/newsletter we
- mail to the following address. We understand that this copy is
- used only to verify continued compliance with ASP standards.
- This should be mailed to:
- Vendor Compliance Committee
- Association of Shareware Professionals
- PO Box 5786
- Bellevue,WA 98006
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- We understand that the ASP will provide us with a warning if
- we fail to meet one or more of the standards for ASP approved
- status. We further understand that if we do not rectify the
- problem(s) in a reasonable amount of time, ASP Approved status
- and Associate membership will be withdrawn. We agree that the
- Board of Directors of the ASP will have the final decision in
- interpretation of the rules.
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- If ASP approval is withdrawn for any reason, we agree to
- cease using the Association of Shareware Professional (ASP) name
- in any way.
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- I understand that my signature as an officer of this
- organization binds the entire organization to abiding by ASP
- standards.
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- Organization (print)___________________________________
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- Officer's Name (print)_________________________________
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- Officer's Title (print)________________________________
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- Officer's Signature____________________________________
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- This application will be reviewed by the ASP Board of
- Directors, and you will be notified when your application is
- approved. If you have any questions regarding your application,
- please contact the Vendor Membership Coordinator at the above
- address.
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