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Annotation of GNUtools/emacs/etc/LPF, revision 1.1

1.1     ! root        1:           Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
        !             2:           Join the League for Programming Freedom
        !             3:                (Version of January 15, 1991)
        !             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.  The new monopolies,
        !             8: software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our
        !             9: freedom 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 intended--copyright on
        !            26: individual programs.  Our aim is to reverse the recent changes made by
        !            27: judges in response to special interests, often explicitly rejecting
        !            28: the public interest principles of the Constitution.
        !            29: 
        !            30: The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing articles,
        !            31: talking with public officials, boycotting egregious offenders, and in
        !            32: the future may intervene in court cases.  On May 24, 1989, the League
        !            33: picketed Lotus headquarters on account of their lawsuits, and then
        !            34: again on August 2, 1990.  These marches stimulated widespread media
        !            35: coverage for the issue.  We welcome suggestions for other activities,
        !            36: as well as help in carrying them out.
        !            37: 
        !            38: Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers,
        !            39: managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others.
        !            40: Please give more if you can.  The League's funds will be used for
        !            41: filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever will
        !            42: persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people.  You may not get
        !            43: anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to write
        !            44: programs.  The League is a non-profit corporation, but not considered
        !            45: a tax-exempt charity.  However, for those self-employed in software,
        !            46: the dues can be a business expense.
        !            47: 
        !            48: The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their
        !            49: dues.  We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us
        !            50: for information.
        !            51: 
        !            52: If you have any questions, please write to the League or phone
        !            53: (617) 243-4091.  Or send Internet mail to [email protected].
        !            54: 
        !            55:                       Jack Larsen, President
        !            56:                       Chris Hofstader, Secretary
        !            57:                       Steve Sisak, Treasurer
        !            58: 
        !            59: Jack Larsen can be contacted at (708) 698-1160; Fax (708) 698-6221.
        !            60: To join, please send a check and the following information to:
        !            61: 
        !            62:     League for Programming Freedom
        !            63:     1 Kendall Square #143
        !            64:     P.O.Box 9171
        !            65:     Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
        !            66: 
        !            67: (Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank 
        !            68: having a US correspondant bank, to save us check cashing fees.)
        !            69: 
        !            70: Your name:
        !            71: 
        !            72: 
        !            73: The address for League mailings (a few each year):
        !            74: 
        !            75: 
        !            76: 
        !            77: The company you work for, and your position:
        !            78: 
        !            79: 
        !            80: Your phone numbers (home, work or both):
        !            81: 
        !            82: 
        !            83: Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for
        !            84: writing letters.  (If you don't want us to contact you for these
        !            85: things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway.)
        !            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.

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