textfiles/bbs/FIDONET/JENNINGS/STANDARDS/policy.doc.txt

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Tom Jennings
Fido Software
164 Shipley
San Francisco CA 94107
BBS: (415)-764-1629, 1:125/111, "Fido Software"
This is the new (5 July 1989) software policy for the<68>
Fido/FidoNet package. Please read it carefully.
First:
Hobbyists run BBSs for their own personal reasons. Their BBS is<69>
not associated with their employer or any business. How they run<75>
their BBS is none of my business, ie. private, public,<2C>
subscription or chattel slavery.
Commercial users are companies, corporations, proprietorships or<6F>
any other business entities that run a BBS, either publicly or<6F>
privately, associated with their business. "Non-profit" and "not<6F>
for profit" organizations are included in this category.
And here's the deal:
HOBBYISTS AND INDIVIDUALS: Fido/FidoNet is shareware; the latest<73>
version of the software, minus documentation, can always be found<6E>
on the Fido Software BBS. There is no downloadable documentation.<2E>
(If you thought the version 11 docs were unwieldy ...) You must<73>
register the software for $50; in return you will receive the<68>
latest version on diskette plus printed and bound documentation.<2E>
If you later desire updates via diskette instead of download,<2C>
updates cost $25 plus the original Fido Software diskette.
COMMERCIAL USERS: Fido/FidoNet is a usual licensable product; the<68>
license fee is $175, as it has been for two years. You will<6C>
receive the latest software version, complete documentation, and<6E>
support via the Fido Software BBS and voice telephone. (This has<61>
proved to be more than adequate for over two years.) Updates can<61>
be obtained by downloading, or via diskette for $25 plus the<68>
original Fido Software diskette or proof of purchase.
BBS SYSTEM OPERATORS: Besides being a HOBBIEST as defined ablve,<2C>
you may have the software available for download, as you would<6C>
any other program. You may rearrange the archives, but please<73>
keep READ.MEs and POLICY files, along with the basic files as<61>
supplied by Fido Software, together as a unit to avoid confusion<6F>
frustration for all of us.
SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTORS: Shareware distributors, clubs, etc: Please<73>
order the complete package as a COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER; for small<6C>
hobbiest clubs, as a HOBBIEST OR INDIVIDUAL. This will assure you<6F>
the latest correct and complete version, and the manual will help<6C>
your club members get things going easily. Such a deal. Look, I'm<>
not getting rich off this (or even breaking even!) so let's<>
scratch each others backs, OK?
Special arrangements can always be made on a case by case basis.<2E>
In all cases, bugs are fixed promptly, as they have been for five<76>
years. This is basically the policy that was in force through<67>
1987. It worked pretty well, there were very few problems, and<6E>
most of those were caused by my ambiguity.