Association of Shareware Professionals Approved BBS Standards as of
30-Aug-93.


1.0. Introduction

This document sets forth standards for an Electronic Bulletin Board System
(BBS) to receive and maintain an "Approved" status from the Association of
Shareware Professionals (ASP).


2.0. Receiving and Maintaining ASP Approved Status

In order for a BBS to receive and maintain ASP Approved status, the
following standards must be met:

2.1. The BBS operator (SYSOP) must fill out an application form stating
his/her willingness to abide by ASP standards set forth in the document
and applying for Associate membership in the ASP.

2.2. The SYSOP must allow for initial and follow-up access to the BBS for
the purpose of verifying compliance with ASP standards. The SYSOP will
provide a specific access name and password on the application for use by
an ASP inspector. This will be used only for official ASP business and
will be kept strictly confidential by the ASP. This "user" must have
normal access given to BBS users or subscribers. It must allow access to
all functions and download libraries that contain shareware. Access to
special message, software support, and areas reserved for private purposes
is not required.

2.3 The application for ASP Approved status and Associate membership will 
be rejected if the BBS system has failed to meet or comply with any of the 
standards or requirements.  Following approval of the membership 
application, the SYSOP will be given a warning if he/she fails to meet one 
or more of the standards.  If the problem is not rectified in a reasonable 
time, the ASP Approved status and Associate membership will be withdrawn.

2.4. If ASP membership ceases for any reason, the BBS must cease using the
ASP name and trademarked logo in any way. Other benefits of membership
will also cease.

2.5. The principals of the BBS are held to the decisions of the ASP
Ombudsman and are required to cooperate with the Ombudsman when approached
by him/her.

2.5.1. Background on the Ombudsman:

The Ombudsman's sole role is to mediate disputes between all ASP members
(Authors and associate members alike) and their customers. The Ombudsman
reports to the board situations where he feels board action or knowledge
is appropriate.


3.0. Shareware Information on the BBS.

3.1. The BBS must maintain bulletins or other informative banners readable
by all who access the BBS that explain what shareware is and who the ASP
is. Files of the suggested ASCII text of these bulletins are included in
the BBS membership application package, and should be in place prior to
the ASP evaluation.

3.2 The BBS must maintain the ASP BBS Ombudsman Statement as either an
online bulletin or a downloadable text file, as per the instructions set
forth in the policy statement (ASPOMB.TXT).

3.3. The file listings of the BBS must have a short identification of ASP
member programs. The notation "<ASP>" is recommended following the program
name, although other methods might be equally suitable.


4.0. Other Requirements.

4.1. The use of the terms "FREE SOFTWARE" and the like must not be used in
conjunction with any shareware products.

4.2. An ASP Approved BBS must not knowingly post for downloading software
that is illegal for distribution in this manner. Any such software must be
immediately removed when found. This includes retail-only products as well
as any other copyrighted material (including shareware) that is restricted
from distribution by the author or copyright owner.

4.3. SYSOPs will not change or delete ANY files supplied with the program
unless specifically authorized in the author's documentation or with the
author's prior authorization. Archiving files for downloading is
encouraged. All files supplied by the author must be contained in the
archive(s).

4.4 The BBS will not distribute multiple versions of products, or any 
products which are known to be outdated/obsolete products.

4.41 Prior to applying for ASP membership, the sysop of the BBS should 
perform a system-wide maintenance operation in their file libraries to  1) 
remove any unnecessary versions of products (i.e. if there are multiple 
versions of a single product online, all but the most recent version of 
that product is to be removed), and  2) remove any products that are known 
to be obsolete or discontinued.  This requirement applies equally to both 
ASP and non-ASP products.  Products contained on CD-ROM discs will be 
exempt from this requirement, although the sysop is strongly encouraged to 
perform these maintenance routines on those file areas as well.

4.42 Following acceptance as a member of the ASP, the sysop of the BBS must 
establish and perform routine maintenance operations in order to keep the 
BBS file libraries in compliance with item 4.1 above.  Such operations are 
to be performed once/month at minimum, but ongoing/daily maintenance is 
strongly recommended.


5.0. BBS Approval process.

5.1.  Upon submission of the application form, an assignee of the ASP will 
log onto the BBS to certify compliance with the standards set forth in 
sections 3 and 4 above.  If any deficiencies are found, the SYSOP will be 
notified and a second check may follow after appropriate fixes are made.  
If any of the specified requirements have not been met or addressed, the 
application shall be rejected, and the sysop will be invited to reapply 
once they have prepared their system according to the documentation 
contained in the membership application package.  In either case, a 
recommendation will be made to the ASP board for approval or disapproval 
and the SYSOP will be notified of the results.

5.2. Appeal of these results may be made by the SYSOP directly to the
board of the ASP.


6.0. Benefits of being an ASP Approved BBS

6.1.1 ASP members will be encouraged to send updated disks or uploads to
approved BBSs. The mailing list of Approved BBSs will be made available to
all ASP member authors.

Additionally any ASP-sponsored distribution of members' software will be
sent to Approved BBSs - at the present time a monthly CD-ROM of ASP
authors' software in PKZIP format is sent to all BBS and Vendor members.
This also includes a full catalog of ASP members' products.

6.1.2 Approved BBSs may use "ASP Approved BBS", "Approved BBS of the
Association of Shareware Professionals", or the ASP Approved BBS logo.

6.1.3. Approved BBSs will receive the printed ASP Newsletter, "ASPects".

6.1.4. Approved BBSs will also benefit by ASP publicity in which readers
will be told to look for ASP Approved BBSs.

6.1.5. Approved BBSs will be Members in the ASP. This is a non-voting
member status.

6.1.6. Approved BBSs will benefit from the public relations aspects of the
institution of Ombudsman.

6.1.7. Approved BBSs will be listed in a register of ASP Approved BBSs
distributed to members and other interested parties.


7.0. A special category of ASP Author BBS allows ASP Author members to
post the "ASP Approved BBS" wording or logo on support BBSs. The benefits
described in points 6.1.1, 6.1.3 and 6.1.7 above will not apply. There is
no charge for this category of member.
