
				WHAT IS SHAREWARE? 


	 Some Definitions:
	  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	  You've probably heard the terms "public domain", "freeware",
	  "shareware", and others like them.  Your favorite BBS or disk
	  vendor probably has many programs described by one or more of
	  these words.  There's a lot of confusion about and between these
	  terms, but they actually have specific meanings and implications.
	  Once you understand them, you will have a much easier time
	  navigating the maze of programs available to you, and
	  understanding what your obligations are, or aren't, with each
	  type of program.

	  Let's start with some basic definitions.

	  "Public domain" has a very specific legal meaning.  It means that
	  the creator of a work (in this case, software), who had legal
	  ownership of that work, has given up ownership and dedicated the
	  work "to the public domain".  Once something is in the public
	  domain, anyone can use it in any way they choose, and the author
	  has no control over the use and cannot demand payment for it.

	  If you find a program which the author has explicitly put into
	  the public domain, you are free to use it however you see fit
	  without paying for the right to use it.  But use care - due to
	  the confusion over the meaning of the words, programs are often
	  described by authors as being "public domain" when, in fact, they
	  are shareware or free, copyrighted software.  To be sure a
	  program is public domain, you should look for an explicit
	  statement from the author to that effect.

	  "Copyrighted" is the opposite of public domain.  A copyrighted
	  program is one where the author has asserted his or her legal
	  right to control the program's use and distribution by placing
	  the legally required copyright notices in the program and
	  documentation.  The law gives copyright owners broad rights to
	  restrict how their work is distributed, and provides for
	  penalties for those who violate these restrictions.  When you
	  find a program which is copyrighted, you must use it in
	  accordance with the copyright owner's restrictions regarding
	  distribution and payment.  Usually, these are clearly stated in
	  the program documentation.

	  Maintaining a copyright does not necessarily imply charging a
	  fee, so it is possible and perfectly legal to have copyrighted
	  programs which are distributed free of charge.  The fact that a
	  program is free, however, does not mean it is in the public
	  domain - though this is a common confusion.

	  "Shareware" is copyrighted software which is distributed by
	  authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors,
	  and copies passed among friends.  It is commercial software which
	  you are allowed to use and evaluate before paying for it.  This
	  makes shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees.

	  The Shareware Concept:
	  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	  Most money back guarantees work like this:  You pay for the
	  product and then have some period of time to try it and see
	  whether or not you like it.  If you don't like it or find that it
	  doesn't do what you need, you return it (undamaged) and at some
	  point - which might take months - you get your money back.  Some
	  software companies won't even let you try their product!  In
	  order to qualify for a refund, the diskette envelope must have an
	  unbroken seal.  With these "licensing" agreements, you only
	  qualify for your money back if you haven't tried the product.

	  Shareware is very different.  With shareware you get to use it
	  for a limited time, without spending a penny.  You are able to
	  use the software on your own system(s), in your own special work
	  environment, with no sales people looking over your shoulder.  If
	  you decide not to continue using it, you throw it away and forget
	  all about it.  No paperwork, phone calls, or correspondence to
	  waste your valuable time.  If you do continue using it, then -
	  and only then - do you pay for it.

	  Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software.
	  Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers, just like
	  retail software.  There is good and bad shareware, just as there
	  is good and bad retail software.  The primary difference between
	  shareware and retail software is that with shareware you know if
	  it's good or bad BEFORE you pay for it.

	  As a software user, you benefit because you get to use the
	  software to determine whether it meets your needs before you pay
	  for it, and authors benefit because they are able to get their
	  products into your hands without the hundreds of thousands of
	  dollars in expenses it takes to launch a traditional retail
	  software product.  There are many programs on the market today
	  which would never have become available without the shareware
	  marketing method.

	  The shareware system and the continued availability of quality
	  shareware products depend on your willingness to register and pay
	  for the shareware you use.  It's the registration fees you pay
	  which allow us to support and continue to develop our products.

	  Please show your support for shareware by registering those
	  programs you actually use and by passing them on to others.

	  Shareware is kept alive by YOUR support!

	  The Virus Problem:
	  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	  We've all heard the horror stories about computer viruses.
	  Unfortunately, we have also heard lots of conflicting statistics
	  and opinions.  When it comes to the virus problem there is a lot
	  of confusion among users and even developers.

	  The sad truth is that some unscrupulous publishers of anti-virus
	  products are using half-truths, overdramatizations, and outright
	  fabrication to promote sales of their products.  They delight in
	  manipulating statistics to support their marketing efforts.
	  While not illegal, these snake-oil tactics are certainly not
	  ethical.

	  To make matters worse, the media has frequently promoted the
	  misinformation promulgated by these unscrupulous individuals
	  rather than the straight facts.  While the misinformation may be
	  more interesting than the actual facts, the media is not doing
	  the computer industry any favors by spreading inaccurate
	  information.  To be fair, many newspapers, magazines, and news
	  networks are beginning to realize which "virus experts" are
	  reliable and which "experts" say whatever is in their own best
	  interest.

	  One of the most interesting myths that has been promulgated by
	  these snake-oil salesmen is that BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems)
	  and shareware programs are a major source of virus infections.
	  Some corporations are now afraid of shareware and BBS activity
	  because of this misinformation.

	  In the October 11, 1988 issue of PC Magazine, publisher Bill
	  Machrone's editorial was entitled "Shareware or Scareware?".  In
	  his article, Bill Machrone points out "The truth is that all
	  major viruses to date were transmitted by commercial [retail]
	  packages and private mail systems."  That sounds a little
	  different than the claims being made by less knowledgeable
	  journalists.

	  Let's consider for a moment, the distribution differences between
	  retail software and shareware software.  Company XYZ releases a
	  new version of its retail software product.  At the same time
	  company XYZ ships tens of thousands of copies to its retail
	  distribution channels, it also ships 30,000 updates to loyal
	  users.  Most of those loyal users will receive the update within
	  a few days of each other.  This can be a big problem if the
	  update happened to be infected with a virus.

	  "Not likely", you say?  It has already happened!  Several times!
	  There have been seventeen (17) major incidents of virus and
	  trojan horse problems in retail software.  Some of these
	  incidents affected tens of thousands of users.

	  What about shareware?  To date there has been one case of a
	  shareware author shipping an infected product.  The virus was
	  detected by the disk vendors and the problem was corrected
	  immediately.  No users were infected.

	  "But it makes sense that programs which are passed around have a
	  greater chance of virus infections, doesn't it?"  Think about it.
	  Who has the most to lose if viruses were spread by BBSs and
	  shareware programs?  The BBS operators, shareware disk vendors
	  and the shareware authors, of course.  Because of this, reputable
	  BBS operators, disk vendors and shareware authors are very
	  careful with the programs they handle.

	  Think about it.  Hundreds (even thousands) of BBS operators and
	  disk vendors are carefully examining the programs they receive
	  and distribute.  Their business depends on it.  This means that
	  any given shareware program can go through hundreds (even
	  thousands) of checkpoints where the program is carefully
	  examined.  If a problem is found, word spreads incredibly fast.
	  News travels "on the wires" even faster than the proverbial small
	  town gossip.  Programs have disappeared almost overnight as a
	  result of this highly efficient communication network.

	  If a shareware program has been around for a few months, it has
	  been checked for virii and trojan horses many more times than any
	  retail software could hope to be checked.  Retail distributors
	  don't check the disks they sell.  Even if the publisher checks
	  their masters for virii (few do), this is still far less than the
	  scrutiny to which shareware programs are subjected.

	  There's something else to consider.  Most retail distributors
	  have a return policy.  What do they do with packages that are
	  returned?  They shrink-wrap them and resell them, of course.  How
	  can you be sure that you are the first person to purchase the
	  package you just bought at your friendly neighborhood computer
	  store?  You can't.  On the other hand, most shareware authors
	  erase, reformat, and reduplicate the disks that are returned to
	  them.  Which do you think is safer?

	  Bill Machrone's article in PC Magazine goes on to say "It's time
	  to recognize that there's nothing to fear in shareware.  As a
	  distribution medium, it saves you money and helps you try out new
	  genres of software with minimum risk."

	  Does this mean that we should all start buying shareware instead
	  of retail software?  Not at all (although few shareware authors
	  would object).  Let's face it, more data has been lost to power
	  failures and spilled cups of coffee than all virii, trojan
	  horses, and worms combined!  An even bigger threat is plain old
	  human error, a mistake, a wrong key press, turning off the power
	  while files are open, and so forth.  Accurate information and
	  common sense (regular backups) are the best defenses against lost
	  data.

	  Sure, the virus problem is real.  Virii exist.  But shunning
	  shareware is not the answer.  Shareware and BBSs are, quite
	  simply, NOT a major source of virus infections.  Some
	  corporations have even banned shareware entirely because of fear
	  of infections.  This is not only unreasonable, it is also
	  expensive.  Think how much they could save in software costs if
	  they would only try software before they buy it!

	  Is there anything you can do to help protect yourself from virus
	  infections?  Absolutely!  Fortunately, the best preventive
	  measures are also the least expensive!

	  If you need informative, accurate and practical information,
	  please read the treatise on "Computer Virus Myths" written by Rob
	  Rosenberger and Ross M. Greenberg.  This treatise is available as
	  a text file on many BBSs and online services.  It not only gives
	  you the facts, it also provides the best overall strategy for
	  protecting your computer system.

	  Don't let fear stop you from saving money on software.  Don't let
	  fear prevent you from trying some of the best software available.
	  Shareware is an important market for software.  Take advantage of
	  it.  You'll be glad you did!

