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a933dad1 DL |
1 | Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs |
2 | Join the League for Programming Freedom | |
3 | (Version of February 3, 1994) | |
4 | ||
5 | Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all | |
6 | the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt | |
7 | were useful. This is no longer the case. New monopolies, known as | |
8 | software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our freedom | |
9 | of expression and our ability to do a good job. | |
10 | ||
11 | "Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command | |
12 | languages; some have succeeded. Copyrights on command languages | |
13 | enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for | |
14 | competition, and stifle incremental improvements. | |
15 | ||
16 | Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design | |
17 | decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit, | |
18 | with draconian pretrial seizure. It is difficult and expensive to | |
19 | find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it is | |
20 | impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the future. | |
21 | ||
22 | The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of | |
23 | professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to | |
24 | bringing back the freedom to write programs. The League is not | |
25 | opposed to the legal system that Congress expressly established for | |
26 | software--copyright on individual programs. Our aim is to reverse the | |
27 | recent changes that prevent programmers from doing their work. | |
28 | ||
29 | The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing articles, | |
30 | talking with public officials, denouncing egregious offenders, and | |
31 | filing amicus curiae briefs, most notably against Lotus in its suit | |
32 | against Borland. We testified twice at the recent Patent Office | |
33 | hearings on software patents. We welcome suggestions for other | |
34 | activities, as well as help in carrying them out. | |
35 | ||
36 | Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers, | |
37 | managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others. | |
38 | Please give more if you can. The League's funds will be used for | |
39 | filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever will | |
40 | persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people. You may not get | |
41 | anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to write | |
42 | programs. The League is a non-profit corporation, but not considered | |
43 | a tax-exempt charity. However, for those self-employed in software, | |
44 | the dues can be a business expense. | |
45 | ||
46 | The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their | |
47 | dues. We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us | |
48 | for information. | |
49 | ||
50 | If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone | |
51 | +1 617 621 7084, or send Internet mail to lpf@uunet.uu.net. | |
52 | ||
53 | Chris Hofstader, President | |
54 | Dean Anderson, Secretary | |
55 | Aubrey Jaffer, Treasurer | |
56 | ||
57 | Chris Hofstader can be reached at (617) 492-0023; FAX (617) 497-1632. | |
58 | \fTo join, please send a check and the following information to: | |
59 | ||
60 | League for Programming Freedom | |
61 | 1 Kendall Square #143 | |
62 | P.O.Box 9171 | |
63 | Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 | |
64 | ||
65 | (Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank | |
66 | having a US correspondent bank, to save us check cashing fees.) | |
67 | ||
68 | Your name: | |
69 | ||
70 | ||
71 | The address for League mailings, a few each year; please indicate | |
72 | whether it is your home address or your work address: | |
73 | ||
74 | ||
75 | ||
76 | The company you work for, and your position: | |
77 | ||
78 | ||
79 | Your phone numbers (home, work or both): | |
80 | ||
81 | ||
82 | Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for | |
83 | writing letters. (If you don't want us to contact you for these | |
84 | things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway | |
85 | so we can save paper and postage by sending you the newsletter by email.) | |
86 | ||
87 | ||
88 | Is there anything about you which would enable your endorsement of the | |
89 | LPF to impress the public? For example, if you are or have been a | |
90 | professor or an executive, or have written software that has a good | |
91 | reputation, please tell us. | |
92 | ||
93 | ||
94 | ||
95 | Would you like to help with LPF activities? | |
96 | ||
97 | ||
98 | ||
99 | ||
100 | The corporate charter of the League for Programming Freedom states: | |
101 | ||
102 | The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following | |
103 | activities: | |
104 | ||
105 | 1. To determine the existence of, and warn the public about | |
106 | restrictions and monopolies on classes of computer programs where such | |
107 | monopolies prevent or restrict the right to develop certain types of | |
108 | computer programs. | |
109 | ||
110 | 2. To develop countermeasures and initiatives, in the public interest, | |
111 | effective to block or otherwise prevent or restrain such monopolistic | |
112 | activities including education, research, publications, public | |
113 | assembly, legislative testimony, and intervention in court proceedings | |
114 | involving public interest issues (as a friend of the court). | |
115 | ||
116 | 3. To engage in any business or other activity in service of and | |
117 | related to the foregoing paragraphs that lawfully may be carried on | |
118 | by a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts | |
119 | General Laws. | |
120 | ||
121 | The officers and directors of the League will be elected annually by | |
122 | the members. |