Preface: Because of the breadth of the subject of this conference, its
rules are more lengthy than in most conferences.  They are a guide for
the smooth running of things here, so please help by adhering to them
as closely as possible.  When you don't, you'll first get a friendly
reminder from a Moderator.  For second offenses, if serious, the
message may not be as friendly.  We are not a policeman, nor your parent,
and we much prefer that you hear from us as a partner in this venture.
*                 SHAREWRE ECHO RULES AND POLICIES                 *
*********************     Feb 15, 2001     *************************
*              English is the official echo language.              *
-> ALL USERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS ECHO MUST READ THIS.
-> BY POSTING MESSAGES IN THE ECHO, YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT AND ABIDE
-> BY THE RULES OF THIS CONFERENCE AS HERE POSTED.
These conference rules will be posted no less than once per month.
Description/Topicality
This is  the International FidoNet Echomail  Conference SHAREWRE,
paid for by those systems which  help distribute it so let's try
to help keep costs down. Its topic: Software distributed via
the shareware method of software distribution.  This also includes Public
Domain, Freeware, test drives of commercial programs, and the moral,
ethical, and philosophical issues surrounding shareware.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I. Moderator Policy/Continuity
1. All rules violations are to be addressed ONLY by the
Moderator.
2. Questioning or discussion of Moderator policy in the open
echo is off topic, except that the Moderators reserve the
right to post special messages relating to such policy and
rules from time to time for the edification of all
participants. We welcome, will listen to and consider any
suggestion or criticism sent by  netmail.
3.  The Moderator shall have the right:
a. To appoint Co-Moderator(s) or Alternate Moderator(s)
b. To set the rules for and call an election for
selection of his/her replacement at any time, or to
appoint a successor upon his/her resignation from the
position.
c. If these rules do not cover dealing with a way of
being annoying, to make a new rule to fit the occasion.
4.  In the event of the incapacity or unwillingness of the
Moderator to continue to serve, then the  Co-Moderator shall
have all the rights ascribed to the moderator.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
II. Message Handling and Restriction
1. Please keep to the topic of the echo as described herein and in the
current Echolist.
2. Be nice, and treat others as you want to be treated.  Don't use foul
or obscene language.  Personal invective and "Widget Wars" will not
be tolerated.  Flames should go to the FLAME echo.
3. Any message suggesting a survey, or requesting a user to post an
address to obtain information or other material shall first be
cleared through the Moderators.  This means send by netmail a copy of
your material to the Moderators, and await a netmail letter of
permission before posting.
4. Encrypted, encoded or rotated messages are not permitted.  File
attachments or UUENCODED messages are not allowed.
5. Messages in this echo are considered public domain.
6. Keep your quoting short.  Quote just enough to identify the thread
of the conversation, but do quote enough to adequately identify the
thread.  Also, note that tagline, tearlines, signatures and origin
lines should not be quoted under normal circumstances.
7. Discussions of shareware programs are encouraged, but if there is a
specific echo for a program, and if the discussion goes on too
long, the Moderators may suggest that you take the discussion to
that echo, or that you wind down the thread.
8. Discussion of shareware games shall be limited to the shareware
aspects of the game.  That is, release notices; where can I find it,
what's the latest version, what do I do to get it to work on my
system?  Hints on how to play, discussions of "how good is it," and
comparison to other games is a no no!  And, don't try to find cheat
codes here.  If the author wants you to have them, they'll be
included in the registered version.
9. No BBS ads are permitted, although a BBS offering shareware files,or
access to echoes, may, and we'd appreciate it if they did, make a one
time announcement here when it first accesses the echo.
No "For Sale" ads are permitted be they private or commercial.
Messages offering to buy/sell hardware/software are prohibited
10. Advertisements for commercial ventures, and responses to such
advertisements will not be tolerated, even though they be
shareware related.  Authors announcements of new or revised
products are encouraged, but we do ask that you keep the length and
frequency of such announcements in reason.  The Moderators will be
more than happy to work with you to get a document that gets your
message across, and is acceptable to both of us.
ll. Please don't use multiple line or "cute" signatures or quote boxes
made up of extended characters (sometimes referred to as
"high ASCII).
12. If your BBS software sends your posts under an alias or handle,
please sign the message with your real name.  If there is a
pressing reason for use of the handle, let the Moderators know, and
it's likely that permission will be given.
13. Please help us promote the shareware ethic of "If you use it, pay
for it."  Bragging of not registering or encouraging another to do
so, or suggesting any form of piracy of programs will be considered
one of the most serious offenses you can commit here, so act
accordingly.
Thank you,
Bryan Turner
SHAREWRE Echo Moderator
1:124/7013    Vagabond@darktech.org