1999-10-03 12:39:42 +00:00
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Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
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Join the League for Programming Freedom
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(Version of February 3, 1994)
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Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all
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the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt
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were useful. This is no longer the case. New monopolies, known as
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software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our freedom
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of expression and our ability to do a good job.
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"Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command
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languages; some have succeeded. Copyrights on command languages
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enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for
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competition, and stifle incremental improvements.
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Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design
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decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit,
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with draconian pretrial seizure. It is difficult and expensive to
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find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it is
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impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the future.
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The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of
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professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to
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bringing back the freedom to write programs. The League is not
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opposed to the legal system that Congress expressly established for
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software--copyright on individual programs. Our aim is to reverse the
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recent changes that prevent programmers from doing their work.
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The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing articles,
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talking with public officials, denouncing egregious offenders, and
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filing amicus curiae briefs, most notably against Lotus in its suit
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against Borland. We testified twice at the recent Patent Office
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hearings on software patents. We welcome suggestions for other
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activities, as well as help in carrying them out.
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Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers,
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managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others.
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Please give more if you can. The League's funds will be used for
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filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever will
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persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people. You may not get
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anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to write
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programs. The League is a non-profit corporation, but not considered
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a tax-exempt charity. However, for those self-employed in software,
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the dues can be a business expense.
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The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their
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dues. We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us
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for information.
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If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone
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+1 617 621 7084, or send Internet mail to lpf@uunet.uu.net.
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Chris Hofstader, President
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Dean Anderson, Secretary
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Aubrey Jaffer, Treasurer
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Chris Hofstader can be reached at (617) 492-0023; FAX (617) 497-1632.
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To join, please send a check and the following information to:
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League for Programming Freedom
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1 Kendall Square #143
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P.O.Box 9171
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Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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2003-02-04 14:56:31 +00:00
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(Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank
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1999-10-03 12:39:42 +00:00
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having a US correspondent bank, to save us check cashing fees.)
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Your name:
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The address for League mailings, a few each year; please indicate
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whether it is your home address or your work address:
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The company you work for, and your position:
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Your phone numbers (home, work or both):
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Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for
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writing letters. (If you don't want us to contact you for these
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things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway
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so we can save paper and postage by sending you the newsletter by email.)
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Is there anything about you which would enable your endorsement of the
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LPF to impress the public? For example, if you are or have been a
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professor or an executive, or have written software that has a good
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reputation, please tell us.
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Would you like to help with LPF activities?
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The corporate charter of the League for Programming Freedom states:
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The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following
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activities:
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1. To determine the existence of, and warn the public about
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restrictions and monopolies on classes of computer programs where such
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monopolies prevent or restrict the right to develop certain types of
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computer programs.
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2. To develop countermeasures and initiatives, in the public interest,
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effective to block or otherwise prevent or restrain such monopolistic
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activities including education, research, publications, public
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assembly, legislative testimony, and intervention in court proceedings
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involving public interest issues (as a friend of the court).
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3. To engage in any business or other activity in service of and
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related to the foregoing paragraphs that lawfully may be carried on
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by a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts
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General Laws.
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The officers and directors of the League will be elected annually by
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the members.
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