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1.1.1.5 ! root        1: Computer-Related Political Groups
        !             2: =================================
        !             3: 
        !             4: This document is included in the PGP software release package.  PGP
        !             5: is "Pretty Good Privacy", a public-key encryption program from Philip
        !             6: Zimmermann.
        !             7: 
        !             8: PGP is a very political piece of software.  It seems appropriate to
        !             9: mention here some computer-related activist groups that are concerned
        !            10: with issues such as impacts of computers on society, algorithm
        !            11: patents, etc.  Here is some information on these groups, provided by
        !            12: each group.
        !            13: 
        !            14: 
        !            15: 
        !            16: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
        !            17: ----------------------------------------
        !            18: 
        !            19: Last Updated: 14 June 1993
        !            20:  
        !            21: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was founded in July, 1990,
        !            22: to assure freedom of expression in digital media, with a particular
        !            23: emphasis on applying the principles embodied in the Constitution and
        !            24: the Bill of Rights to computer-based communication. 
        !            25: 
        !            26: From the beginning, EFF was determined to become an organization that
        !            27: would combine technical, legal and public policy expertise, and would
        !            28: apply these skills to the myriad issues and concerns that arise
        !            29: whenever a new communications medium is born.
        !            30: 
        !            31: By remaining faithful to this initial vision, EFF has become an 
        !            32: organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and inter-
        !            33: nationally networked computer users.  We perform the multiple roles of
        !            34: guardian, advocate and innovator, to serve and protect the public
        !            35: interest in the information age.
        !            36: 
        !            37: 
        !            38: GOALS OF THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, 1993 
        !            39: 
        !            40: EFF's mission is to understand the opportunities and challenges of 
        !            41: digital communications, in order to foster openness, individual 
        !            42: freedom and community.  We expect to carry out our mission through
        !            43: activities in the following areas:
        !            44: 
        !            45: POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY.  EFF has been working to 
        !            46: promote an open architecture for telecommunications by various 
        !            47: means, including the Open Platform Initiative, the fight against the 
        !            48: FBI's Digital Telephony wiretap proposal, and efforts to free robust 
        !            49: encryption technologies from NSA control.
        !            50: 
        !            51: FOSTERING COMMUNITY.  Much of the work we have done has been directed
        !            52: at fostering a sense of community in the online world.  Because we
        !            53: realize that we know far less about the conditions conducive to the
        !            54: formation of virtual communities than is necessary to be effective in
        !            55: creating them, we will devote a large portion of our R & D resources
        !            56: to developing better understanding in this area.
        !            57: 
        !            58: LEGAL SERVICES.  EFF was born to defend the rights of computer users
        !            59: against overzealous and uninformed law enforcement officials.  This
        !            60: continues to be an important focus of EFF's work.  We provide legal
        !            61: information to individuals who request it and support for attorneys
        !            62: who are litigating.  We maintain print and online legal archives,
        !            63: disseminate this information, and make it available for downloading.
        !            64: Our board and staff are continuously engaged in writing and speaking
        !            65: about these issues. 
        !            66: 
        !            67: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT.  We have started many projects over the years
        !            68: as their need became apparent.  Going forward, EFF will allocate
        !            69: resources to investigate and initiate new projects.  To ensure that
        !            70: our projects have the greatest impact and can reasonably be completed
        !            71: with the resources available, EFF will sharpen its selection and
        !            72: review process. 
        !            73: 
        !            74: 
        !            75: MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION 
        !            76: 
        !            77: If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by 
        !            78: becoming a member now.  Members receive our bi-weekly electronic 
        !            79: newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that 
        !            80: can be reached through the Net), answers to your legal questions, 
        !            81: special releases and other notices on our activities.  (Because we 
        !            82: believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these 
        !            83: things even if you do not elect to become a member.)  Your membership
        !            84: dues and other donations are fully tax deductible. 
        !            85: 
        !            86: OUR ADDRESSES
        !            87: 
        !            88: Electronic Frontier Foundation
        !            89: 1001 G St., NW
        !            90: Suite 950 East
        !            91: Washington, DC 20001
        !            92: +1 202 347 5400
        !            93: +1 202 393 5509 FAX
        !            94: Internet: [email protected]
        !            95: 
        !            96: MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION 
        !            97: ============================================================= 
        !            98: Print out and mail to:
        !            99: Membership Coordinator
        !           100: Electronic Frontier Foundation
        !           101: 1001 G St., NW, Suite 950 East, Washington, DC 20001
        !           102: 
        !           103: I wish to become a member of EFF.  I enclose: $_______ 
        !           104: $20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership)
        !           105: 
        !           106: Name:
        !           107: Organization:
        !           108: Address:
        !           109: City or Town:
        !           110: State:        Zip:           Phone (optional): (      )
        !           111: FAX (optional): (      )
        !           112: Email address:
        !           113: 
        !           114: I enclose a check [ ].
        !           115: Please charge my membership in the amount of $________ to my 
        !           116: Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] 
        !           117: Number:
        !           118: Expiration date:
        !           119: Signature: ________________________________________________ 
        !           120: Date:
        !           121: 
        !           122: Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never sell
        !           123: any part of our membership list.  We will, from time to time, share 
        !           124: this list with other nonprofit organizations whose work we determine 
        !           125: to be in line with our goals.  However, you must explicitly grant us 
        !           126: permission to share your name with these other groups.  Member privacy
        !           127: is our default. 
        !           128: 
        !           129: I hereby grant permission to EFF to share my name with other 
        !           130: nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate.
        !           131: [ ] Initials:___________________________
        !           132: 
        !           133: 
        !           134: 
        !           135: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
        !           136: ------------------------------------------------
        !           137: 
        !           138: CPSR empowers computer professionals and computer users to advocate
        !           139: for the responsible use of information technology and empowers all
        !           140: who use computer technology to participate in the public debate.   As
        !           141: technical experts, CPSR members provide the public and policymakers
        !           142: with realistic assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of 
        !           143: computer technology.  As an organization of concerned citizens, CPSR
        !           144: directs public attention to critical choices concerning the
        !           145: applications of computing and how those choices affect society.
        !           146: 
        !           147: By matching unimpeachable technical information with policy 
        !           148: development savvy, CPSR uses minimum dollars to have maximum impact
        !           149: and encourages broad public participation in the shaping of 
        !           150: technology policy.
        !           151: 
        !           152: Every project we undertake is based on five principles:
        !           153: 
        !           154: *  We foster and support public discussion of and public 
        !           155:    responsibility for decisions involving the use of computers in 
        !           156:    systems critical to society.
        !           157: 
        !           158: *  We work to dispel popular myths about the infallibility of
        !           159:    technological systems.
        !           160: 
        !           161: *  We challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve 
        !           162:    political and social problems.
        !           163: 
        !           164: *  We critically examine social and technical issues within 
        !           165:    the computer profession, nationally and internationally.
        !           166: 
        !           167: *  We encourage the use of computer technology to improve the 
        !           168:    quality of life. 
        !           169: 
        !           170: 
        !           171: Founded in 1981 by a small group of computer scientists concerned 
        !           172: about the use of computers in nuclear weapons systems, CPSR has grown
        !           173: into a national public-interest alliance of computer industry 
        !           174: professionals  dedicated to examining the impact of  technology on 
        !           175: society.
        !           176: 
        !           177: Currently, CPSR has 21 chapters in the U.S. and affiliations with 
        !           178: similar groups worldwide.  In addition to our National Office in Palo
        !           179: Alto, CPSR  maintains offices in Washington D.C. and Cambridge,
        !           180: Massachusetts.
        !           181: 
        !           182: 
        !           183: CPSR PROJECTS
        !           184: 
        !           185: As computer technology becomes increasingly pervasive, the issues 
        !           186: facing us become more complex.  CPSR provides a forum where we can
        !           187: examine technology's impact on our lives, the lives of our fellow 
        !           188: citizens, and on society as a whole.  By sponsoring both national and
        !           189: local projects, CPSR serves as a catalyst for in-depth discussion and
        !           190: effective action in key areas:
        !           191: 
        !           192:      Civil Liberties and Privacy
        !           193: 
        !           194:      The 21st Century Project:  Technology Policy and Human Needs
        !           195: 
        !           196:      Workplace Issues and Participatory Design
        !           197: 
        !           198:      Reliability and Risk
        !           199: 
        !           200: In addition, CPSR's chapter-based projects and national working
        !           201: groups tackle issues ranging from the development of nanotechnology
        !           202: and virtual reality to computing and ethics to community computing to
        !           203: computers and education.
        !           204: 
        !           205: 
        !           206: HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
        !           207: 
        !           208: CPSR is a democratically organized grass roots alliance.  Our 
        !           209: accomplishments are the result of the member activism.  Many CPSR
        !           210: members serve as national organizers
        !           211: 
        !           212: Just fill out the membership form, enclose a check and mail it to 
        !           213: CPSR, P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
        !           214: 
        !           215: CPSR's cost to provide members with services is covered by the $75
        !           216: dues.  To keep CPSR membership open to a wide range of people, we
        !           217: offer dues levels of $20 and $50. 
        !           218: 
        !           219: 
        !           220: MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
        !           221: 
        !           222: When you become a member of CPSR, you are joining a nationwide 
        !           223: network of computer professionals who are committed to bringing 
        !           224: social responsibility to all aspects of computer technology.  CPSR 
        !           225: sponsors, supports, and participates in conferences, roundtables and 
        !           226: meetings on advanced issues in computing, local civic networks, 
        !           227: cryptography, participatory design, and computers and social change.
        !           228: 
        !           229: Every fall the CPSR Annual Meeting brings together the foremost 
        !           230: representatives of the technology industry to explore current topics 
        !           231: in seminars and panel discussions.  Our conferences and chapter
        !           232: meetings provide important opportunities to meet other members and
        !           233: share ideas and expertise.
        !           234: 
        !           235: OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE:
        !           236: 
        !           237: *  a quarterly newsletter which provides in-depth analysis of key 
        !           238:    issues in computing as well as updates on CPSR activities and
        !           239:    action alerts,
        !           240: 
        !           241: *  an organized voice for socially responsible computing in 
        !           242:    Washington,
        !           243: 
        !           244: *  well-researched public testimony and public policy development,
        !           245: 
        !           246: *  invitations and discounts to CPSR events,
        !           247: 
        !           248: *  discounts on research papers, books, and educational videotapes,
        !           249: 
        !           250: *  on-line information and discussion of key issues in computing,
        !           251: 
        !           252: *  membership in a local CPSR chapter (where available) and notices 
        !           253:    of chapter meetings and activities,
        !           254: 
        !           255: *  participation in local and national working groups which allow you 
        !           256:    to have effective impact on the issues you care about,
        !           257: 
        !           258: *  information and referral about crucial issues in computing.
        !           259: 
        !           260: 
        !           261: ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
        !           262: 
        !           263:    CPSR National Office 
        !           264:    P.O. Box 717 
        !           265:    Palo Alto, CA  94301 
        !           266:    415-322-3778 
        !           267:    415-322-3798 (FAX) 
        !           268:    E-mail: [email protected]
        !           269: 
        !           270:    CPSR Cambridge Office
        !           271:    P.O. Box 962
        !           272:    Cambridge, MA  02142
        !           273:    617-625-6985
        !           274:    [email protected]
        !           275: 
        !           276:    CPSR Washington Office
        !           277:    666 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Suite 303
        !           278:    Washington, D.C.  20003
        !           279:    202-544-9240
        !           280:    202-547-5481 FAX
        !           281:    [email protected]
        !           282: 
        !           283: Staff
        !           284:    Managing Director, Evelyn Pine
        !           285:    Assistant to the Director, Nikki Draper
        !           286:    Cambridge Office Director, Gary Chapman
        !           287:    Washington Office Director, Marc Rotenberg
        !           288: 
        !           289: 
        !           290: PRIVACY NOTICE:  The CPSR membership database is never sold, rented,
        !           291: lent, exchanged, or  used for anything other than official CPSR 
        !           292: activity. CPSR may elect to send members mailings with information
        !           293: from other groups, but the mailings will always originate with CPSR.
        !           294: 
        !           295: 
        !           296: ====================== clip and mail ==========================
        !           297: 
        !           298: CPSR MEMBERSHIP FORM
        !           299: 
        !           300: Name     _________________________________________________________
        !           301: 
        !           302: Address  _________________________________________________________
        !           303: 
        !           304:          _________________________________________________________
        !           305: 
        !           306: City/State/Zip  __________________________________________________
        !           307: 
        !           308: Home phone  ____________________  Work phone _____________________
        !           309: 
        !           310: Company  _________________________________________________________
        !           311: 
        !           312: Type of work  ____________________________________________________
        !           313: 
        !           314: E-mail address  __________________________________________________
        !           315: 
        !           316: CPSR Chapter
        !           317:     __ Acadiana       __ Austin       __ Berkeley
        !           318:     __ Boston         __ Chicago      __ Denver/Boulder
        !           319:     __ Los Angeles    __ Madison      __ Maine
        !           320:     __ Milwaukee      __ Minnesota    __ New Haven
        !           321:     __ New York       __ Palo Alto    __ Philadelphia
        !           322:     __ Pittsburgh     __ Portland     __ San Diego
        !           323:     __ Santa Cruz     __ Seattle      __ Washington, DC
        !           324:     __ No chapter in my area
        !           325: 
        !           326: CPSR Membership Categories 
        !           327:     __  $  75  REGULAR MEMBER
        !           328:     __  $  50  Basic member
        !           329:     __  $ 200  Supporting member
        !           330:     __  $ 500  Sponsoring member
        !           331:     __  $1000  Lifetime member
        !           332:     __  $  20  Student/low income member
        !           333: 
        !           334:     __  $  50  Foreign subscriber
        !           335:     __  $  50  Library/institutional subscriber
        !           336: 
        !           337: 
        !           338: Additional tax-deductible contribution to support CPSR projects:
        !           339:     __  $50     __  $75      __  $100    __  $250
        !           340:     __  $500    __  $1000    __  Other
        !           341: 
        !           342: 
        !           343: Total Enclosed:  $ ________
        !           344: 
        !           345: Make check out to CPSR and mail to:
        !           346:     CPSR
        !           347:     P.O. Box 717
        !           348:     Palo Alto, CA  94301
        !           349: 
        !           350: --
        !           351: 
        !           352: 
        !           353: 
        !           354: The League for Programming Freedom
        !           355: ----------------------------------
        !           356: 
        !           357: 
        !           358:           Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
        !           359:           Join the League for Programming Freedom
        !           360:                (Version of January 15, 1993)
        !           361: 
        !           362: Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all
        !           363: the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt
        !           364: were useful.  This is no longer the case.  New monopolies, known as
        !           365: software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our
        !           366: freedom of expression and our ability to do a good job.
        !           367: 
        !           368: "Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command
        !           369: languages; some have succeeded.  Copyrights on command languages
        !           370: enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for
        !           371: competition, and stifle incremental improvements.
        !           372: 
        !           373: Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design
        !           374: decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit,
        !           375: with draconian pretrial seizure.  It is difficult and expensive to
        !           376: find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it
        !           377: is impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the
        !           378: future.
        !           379: 
        !           380: The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of
        !           381: professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to
        !           382: bringing back the freedom to write programs.  The League is not
        !           383: opposed to the legal system that Congress intended--copyright on
        !           384: individual programs.  Our aim is to reverse the recent changes made
        !           385: by judges in response to special interests, often explicitly
        !           386: rejecting the public interest principles of the Constitution.
        !           387: 
        !           388: The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing
        !           389: articles, talking with public officials, boycotting egregious
        !           390: offenders, and in the future may intervene in court cases.  On May
        !           391: 24, 1989, the League picketed Lotus headquarters on account of their
        !           392: lawsuits, and then again on August 2, 1990.  These marches stimulated
        !           393: widespread media coverage for the issue.  We welcome suggestions for
        !           394: other activities, as well as help in carrying them out.
        !           395: 
        !           396: Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers,
        !           397: managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others.
        !           398: Please give more if you can.  The League's funds will be used for
        !           399: filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever
        !           400: will persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people.  You may
        !           401: not get anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to
        !           402: write programs.  The League is a non-profit corporation, but not
        !           403: considered a tax-exempt charity.  However, for those self-employed in
        !           404: software, the dues can be a business expense.
        !           405: 
        !           406: The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their
        !           407: dues.  We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us
        !           408: for information.
        !           409: 
        !           410: If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone
        !           411: (617) 433-7071, or send Internet mail to [email protected]
        !           412: 
        !           413:                       Jack Larsen, President
        !           414:                       Dean Anderson, Secretary
        !           415:                       Steve Sisak, Treasurer
        !           416: 
        !           417: Jack Larsen can be contacted at (708) 698-1160; Fax (708) 698-6221.
        !           418: 
        !           419: To join, please send a check and the following information to:
        !           420: 
        !           421:     League for Programming Freedom
        !           422:     1 Kendall Square #143
        !           423:     P.O.Box 9171
        !           424:     Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
        !           425: 
        !           426: (Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank having a
        !           427: US correspondant bank, to save us check cashing fees.)
        !           428: 
        !           429: Your name:
        !           430: 
        !           431: 
        !           432: The address for League mailings, a few each year; please indicate
        !           433: whether it is your home address or your work address:
        !           434: 
        !           435: 
        !           436: 
        !           437: The company you work for, and your position:
        !           438: 
        !           439: 
        !           440: Your phone numbers (home, work or both):
        !           441: 
        !           442: 
        !           443: Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for
        !           444: writing letters.  (If you don't want us to contact you for these
        !           445: things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway
        !           446: so we can save paper and postage by sending you the newsletter by
        !           447: email.)
        !           448: 
        !           449: 
        !           450: Is there anything about you which would enable your endorsement of
        !           451: the LPF to impress the public?  For example, if you are or have been
        !           452: a professor or an executive, or have written software that has a good
        !           453: reputation, please tell us.
        !           454: 
        !           455: 
        !           456: Would you like to help with LPF activities?
        !           457: 
        !           458: 
        !           459: The corporate charter of the League for Programming Freedom states:
        !           460: 
        !           461:     The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following
        !           462:     activities:
        !           463: 
        !           464:     1.  To determine the existence of, and warn the public about
        !           465:     restrictions and monopolies on classes of computer programs where such
        !           466:     monopolies prevent or restrict the right to develop certain types of
        !           467:     computer programs.
        !           468: 
        !           469:     2.  To develop countermeasures and initiatives, in the public interest,
        !           470:     effective to block or otherwise prevent or restrain such monopolistic
        !           471:     activities including education, research, publications, public
        !           472:     assembly, legislative testimony, and intervention in court proceedings
        !           473:     involving public interest issues (as a friend of the court).
        !           474: 
        !           475:     3.  To engage in any business or other activity in service of and
        !           476:     related to the foregoing paragraphs that lawfully may be carried on
        !           477:     by a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts
        !           478:     General Laws.
        !           479: 
        !           480: The officers and directors of the League will be elected annually by
        !           481: the members.
        !           482: 
        !           483: 

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