davidsen@steinmetz.ge.com (William E. Davidsen Jr) (09/21/88)
Here is the official statement of policy about ARC and others use of it. As read it it's completely fair and unrestrictive, permits free individual use, allows use of their code to develop your own shareware, which they will even distribute on their BBS. It prohibits using the ARC trademark on products which are not 100% compatible in file format. They do require payment of a 6.5% royaltee after the first $100k if you use their code or trademark. ---------------- read it for yourself ---------------- System Enhancement Associates Policy Statement on ARC Trademark and Copyrights Many of our users have expressed concern regarding use of the ARC trademark and copyrights. To better meet their needs we have formulated this Statement of Policy, effective as of September 13, 1988. This policy applies to anyone who does not already have an agreement with us. In the interest of serving the needs of the bulletin board community and supporting the shareware concept, we pledge to: o Maintain the ARC file format as a stable industry standard. o Continue to upgrade ARC for speed and efficiency. o Continue to distribute ARC as a shareware product, and continue to allow for its free non-commercial use. Futhermore, we pledge to foster the ingenuity and creativity of our fellow shareware authors, whom we are happy to support in virtually every manner. ARC To protect the rights of our shareware licensees, ARC may be freely copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) No fee may be charged for such copying and distribution. 2) ARC may only be distributed in its original, unmodified state. 3) ARC may not be distributed, in whole or in part, as part of any commercial product or service without the express written permission of SEA. 4) ARC may be made available for download by pay bulletin boards and similar commercial services provided that no additional fee is charged specifically for downloading ARC. ARC TRADEMARK Use of the ARC trademark may be licensed subject to the following terms: 1) Any use of the ARC trademark means that the product is SHAREWARE. We need a fully functional copy of the latest version with documentation to make available on our BBS for general download. 2) Your product must be compatible with the current version of ARC from SEA, and must be of an acceptable level of quality and workmanship. 3) We must have your name and address so that we can keep you informed on any changes to ARC. 4) As the legal owner of the ARC trademark, we are bound by US trademark laws to protect and maintain the integrity of ARC in any program that uses the ARC trademark . To comply with this, we must ask for fully commented source code. We will keep your source code completely confidential if you so desire, and we will not make use of any of your source code in any of our products. ARC SOURCE CODE The ARC program sources have always been available for informational purposes. They may be used freely in the creation of shareware utilities that examine the contents of an ARC format archive. Any other use of the ARC source code is subject to the following terms and conditions: 1) Your product must be SHAREWARE. We need a fully functional copy of the latest version with documentation to make available on our BBS for general download. 2) The first $100,000 worth of revenues is yours to keep. We want 6.5% of any revenue above that in return for the use of our code. 3) For the protection of our users, your product may not produce ARC format archives which are incompatiable with our current version of ARC. ARC FILE FORMAT 1) We hereby grant to the entire world and all sentient creatures in the universe who do not already have an agreement with us to the contrary a perpetutal, unlimited, galaxy wide license to read, extract, create, or otherwise manipulate ARC format archives. This does not include any license to use our sources or trademarks. 2) If you make any changes to the format such that your file is not compatible with the current version of ARC, then the result may not be referred to as an ARC format Archive. We feel that this Policy Statement is a fair and workable answer to all concerned with ARC format archives, developers and users alike. If any developer is unable to comply with these terms, please contact us at (201) 473-5153 to discuss alternative arrangements. -- bill davidsen (wedu@ge-crd.arpa) {uunet | philabs}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen "Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me
w8sdz@smoke.ARPA (Keith B. Petersen ) (09/21/88)
In Bill Davison's posting, SEA writes:
"4) As the legal owner of the ARC trademark, we are bound by US
trademark laws to protect and maintain the integrity of ARC
in any program that uses the ARC trademark . To comply with
this, we must ask for fully commented source code."
--------------------------------------------
What author would be willing to give the competition fully commented
source code and in addition feel comfortable in believing:
"We will keep your source code completely confidential if you so
desire, and we will not make use of any of your source code
in any of our products."
None that I know.
--
Keith Petersen
Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL
Uucp: {att,decwrl,harvard,lll-crg,ucbvax,uw-beaver}!simtel20.army.mil!w8sdz
GEnie: W8SDZ