comparison etc/LPF @ 25853:e96ffe544684

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author Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
date Sun, 03 Oct 1999 12:39:42 +0000
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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
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.