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author | Juanma Barranquero <lekktu@gmail.com> |
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date | Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:57:46 +0000 |
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25853 | 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 To 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 | |
49600
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Juanma Barranquero <lekktu@gmail.com>
parents:
25853
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65 (Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank |
25853 | 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. |