Tom Jennings Fido Software Box 77731 San Francisco CA 94107 BBS: (415)-764-1629, 1:125/111, "Fido Software" This is the new (5 July 1989) software policy for the Fido/FidoNet package. Please read it carefully. First: Hobbyists run BBSs for their own personal reasons. Their BBS is not associated with their employer or any business. How they run their BBS is none of my business, ie. private, public, subscription or chattel slavery. Commercial users are companies, corporations, proprietorships or any other business entities that run a BBS, either publicly or privately, associated with their business. "Non-profit" and "not for profit" organizations are included in this category. And here's the deal: HOBBYISTS AND INDIVIDUALS: Fido/FidoNet is shareware; the latest version of the software, minus documentation, can always be found on the Fido Software BBS. There is no downloadable documentation. (If you thought the version 11 docs were unwieldy ...) You must register the software for $50; in return you will receive the latest version on diskette plus printed and bound documentation. If you later desire updates via diskette instead of download, updates cost $25 plus the original Fido Software diskette. COMMERCIAL USERS: Fido/FidoNet is a usual licensable product; the license fee is $175, as it has been for two years. You will receive the latest software version, complete documentation, and support via the Fido Software BBS and voice telephone. (This has proved to be more than adequate for over two years.) Updates can be obtained by downloading, or via diskette for $25 plus the original Fido Software diskette or proof of purchase. BBS SYSTEM OPERATORS: Besides being a HOBBIEST as defined above, you may have the software available for download, as you would any other program. You may rearrange the archives, but please keep READ.MEs and POLICY files, along with the basic files as supplied by Fido Software, together as a unit to avoid confusion frustration for all of us. SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTORS: Shareware distributors, clubs, etc: Please order the complete package as a COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER; for small hobbiest clubs, as a HOBBIEST OR INDIVIDUAL. This will assure you the latest correct and complete version, and the manual will help 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. In all cases, bugs are fixed promptly, as they have been for five years. This is basically the policy that was in force through 1987. It worked pretty well, there were very few problems, and most of those were caused by my ambiguity.