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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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