
                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        VENDINFO Concept Paper Released for Public Comment

 Parker, Colorado -- May 8, 1993 -- Rudy Ramsey, of Rams' Island
 Software, has released the document, "VENDINFO Software Distribu-
 tion Information System: Conceptual Approach", for public infor-
 mation and comment.

 This document describes the conceptual approach for a system
 called VENDINFO. VENDINFO is intended to convey software product
 information and distribution permissions from the author to
 distributors. A standard (public) file format carries extensive
 information in a compressed, efficient form. The associated
 toolset will aid the author in constructing the record, and will
 allow the distributor to extract portions of the record, or make
 distribution decisions based on its content, in a highly auto-
 mated way. VENDINFO will allow automation of many operations now
 performed manually by BBS Sysops, disk vendors, etc.

 One of the goals of the VENDINFO project is to provide a substan-
 tial opportunity for public input prior to final definition of a
 file format standard and completion of the associated toolset.
 All interested parties are invited to obtain a copy of the con-
 cept document and provide comments, criticisms, and suggestions.
 Comments are solicited from all parts of the shareware industry,
 including authors, sysops, disk vendors, CD-ROM publishers, etc.
 We want to make the VENDINFO system work well for all! Comments
 will be welcome anytime, but the "deadline" is June 30, 1993.

 The VENDINFO concept document is available electronically as
 VENDINFO.ZIP (VNDINF.ZIP on CompuServe), and is about 18K in
 size. It is available by download or FidoNet/RIME file request
 from the author's BBS (see below) and from:
      CompuServe SHAREWARE forum
      CompuServe UKSHARE forum
      GENIE Home Office/Small Business Roundtable
      Public Brand Software BBS
 Further distribution is encouraged, so long as the complete
 VENDINFO.ZIP is distributed unaltered. You may therefore be able
 to find it via other sources, such as local BBSes.

 If you prefer to obtain the paper in hardcopy form within in the
 United States, please send a request with a self-addressed mail-
 ing label and a one dollar bill, to Rams' Island Software at the
 address below.

 Rams' Island Software
 7644 E. Lakecliff Way                _______
 Parker, CO 80134-5904 (USA)     ____|__     |                (R)
                              --|       |    |-------------------
 Voice: (303) 841-2848          |   ____|__  |  Association of
 BBS:   (303) 841-6269          |  |       |_|  Shareware
 CompuServe: 76244,324          |__|   o   |    Professionals
                              -----|   |   |---------------------
 FidoNet:  1:104/333               |___|___|    MEMBER
 RIME:     RAMSISLE
 Internet: 76244.324@CompuServe.Com
