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\section{Software Policy}

This is the new (6 July 1989) software policy for the \fido\¨
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:

{\bf Hobbyists and Individuals:} \fido\ 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\dots) 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.

{\bf Commercial Users:} \fido\ 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.

{\bf BBS System Operators:} Besides being a {\bf Hobbyist} as¨
defined above, you may have the software available for download,¨
as you would  any other program. 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.

{\bf Shareware Distributors,} clubs, etc: Please order the¨
complete package as a {\bf Commercial User}; for small hobbyist¨
clubs, as a {\bf Hobbyist} or {\bf 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.

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