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Computer-Related Political Groups
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=================================
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This document is included in the PGP software release package. PGP
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is "Pretty Good Privacy", a public-key encryption program from Philip
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Zimmermann.
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PGP is a very political piece of software. It seems appropriate to
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mention here some computer-related activist groups that are concerned
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with issues such as impacts of computers on society, algorithm
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patents, etc. Here is some information on these groups, provided by
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each group.
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
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----------------------------------------
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Last Updated: 14 June 1993
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was founded in July, 1990,
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to assure freedom of expression in digital media, with a particular
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emphasis on applying the principles embodied in the Constitution and
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the Bill of Rights to computer-based communication.
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From the beginning, EFF was determined to become an organization that
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would combine technical, legal and public policy expertise, and would
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apply these skills to the myriad issues and concerns that arise
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whenever a new communications medium is born.
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By remaining faithful to this initial vision, EFF has become an
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organized voice for the burgeoning community of nationally and inter-
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nationally networked computer users. We perform the multiple roles of
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guardian, advocate and innovator, to serve and protect the public
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interest in the information age.
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GOALS OF THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION, 1993
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EFF's mission is to understand the opportunities and challenges of
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digital communications, in order to foster openness, individual
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freedom and community. We expect to carry out our mission through
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activities in the following areas:
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POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY. EFF has been working to
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promote an open architecture for telecommunications by various
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means, including the Open Platform Initiative, the fight against the
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FBI's Digital Telephony wiretap proposal, and efforts to free robust
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encryption technologies from NSA control.
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FOSTERING COMMUNITY. Much of the work we have done has been directed
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at fostering a sense of community in the online world. Because we
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realize that we know far less about the conditions conducive to the
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formation of virtual communities than is necessary to be effective in
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creating them, we will devote a large portion of our R & D resources
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to developing better understanding in this area.
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LEGAL SERVICES. EFF was born to defend the rights of computer users
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against overzealous and uninformed law enforcement officials. This
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continues to be an important focus of EFF's work. We provide legal
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information to individuals who request it and support for attorneys
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who are litigating. We maintain print and online legal archives,
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disseminate this information, and make it available for downloading.
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Our board and staff are continuously engaged in writing and speaking
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about these issues.
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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT. We have started many projects over the years
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as their need became apparent. Going forward, EFF will allocate
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resources to investigate and initiate new projects. To ensure that
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our projects have the greatest impact and can reasonably be completed
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with the resources available, EFF will sharpen its selection and
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review process.
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MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
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If you support our goals and our work, you can show that support by
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becoming a member now. Members receive our bi-weekly electronic
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newsletter, EFFector Online (if you have an electronic address that
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can be reached through the Net), answers to your legal questions,
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special releases and other notices on our activities. (Because we
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believe that support should be freely given, you can receive these
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things even if you do not elect to become a member.) Your membership
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dues and other donations are fully tax deductible.
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OUR ADDRESSES
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Electronic Frontier Foundation
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1001 G St., NW
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Suite 950 East
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Washington, DC 20001
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+1 202 347 5400
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+1 202 393 5509 FAX
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Internet: eff@eff.org
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MEMBERSHIP IN THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
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=============================================================
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Print out and mail to:
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Membership Coordinator
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Electronic Frontier Foundation
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1001 G St., NW, Suite 950 East, Washington, DC 20001
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I wish to become a member of EFF. I enclose: $_______
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$20.00 (student or low income membership) $40.00 (regular membership)
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Name:
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Organization:
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Address:
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City or Town:
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State: Zip: Phone (optional): ( )
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FAX (optional): ( )
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Email address:
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I enclose a check [ ].
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Please charge my membership in the amount of $________ to my
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Mastercard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ]
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Number:
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Expiration date:
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Signature: ________________________________________________
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Date:
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Our privacy policy: The Electronic Frontier Foundation will never sell
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any part of our membership list. We will, from time to time, share
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this list with other nonprofit organizations whose work we determine
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to be in line with our goals. However, you must explicitly grant us
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permission to share your name with these other groups. Member privacy
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is our default.
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I hereby grant permission to EFF to share my name with other
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nonprofit groups from time to time as it deems appropriate.
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[ ] Initials:___________________________
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Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
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------------------------------------------------
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CPSR empowers computer professionals and computer users to advocate
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for the responsible use of information technology and empowers all
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who use computer technology to participate in the public debate. As
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technical experts, CPSR members provide the public and policymakers
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with realistic assessments of the power, promise, and limitations of
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computer technology. As an organization of concerned citizens, CPSR
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directs public attention to critical choices concerning the
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applications of computing and how those choices affect society.
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By matching unimpeachable technical information with policy
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development savvy, CPSR uses minimum dollars to have maximum impact
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and encourages broad public participation in the shaping of
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technology policy.
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Every project we undertake is based on five principles:
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* We foster and support public discussion of and public
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responsibility for decisions involving the use of computers in
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systems critical to society.
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* We work to dispel popular myths about the infallibility of
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technological systems.
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* We challenge the assumption that technology alone can solve
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political and social problems.
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* We critically examine social and technical issues within
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the computer profession, nationally and internationally.
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* We encourage the use of computer technology to improve the
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quality of life.
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Founded in 1981 by a small group of computer scientists concerned
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about the use of computers in nuclear weapons systems, CPSR has grown
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into a national public-interest alliance of computer industry
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professionals dedicated to examining the impact of technology on
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society.
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Currently, CPSR has 21 chapters in the U.S. and affiliations with
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similar groups worldwide. In addition to our National Office in Palo
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Alto, CPSR maintains offices in Washington D.C. and Cambridge,
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Massachusetts.
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CPSR PROJECTS
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As computer technology becomes increasingly pervasive, the issues
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facing us become more complex. CPSR provides a forum where we can
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examine technology's impact on our lives, the lives of our fellow
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citizens, and on society as a whole. By sponsoring both national and
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local projects, CPSR serves as a catalyst for in-depth discussion and
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effective action in key areas:
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Civil Liberties and Privacy
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The 21st Century Project: Technology Policy and Human Needs
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Workplace Issues and Participatory Design
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Reliability and Risk
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In addition, CPSR's chapter-based projects and national working
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groups tackle issues ranging from the development of nanotechnology
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and virtual reality to computing and ethics to community computing to
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computers and education.
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HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
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CPSR is a democratically organized grass roots alliance. Our
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accomplishments are the result of the member activism. Many CPSR
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members serve as national organizers
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Just fill out the membership form, enclose a check and mail it to
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CPSR, P.O. Box 717, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
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CPSR's cost to provide members with services is covered by the $75
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dues. To keep CPSR membership open to a wide range of people, we
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offer dues levels of $20 and $50.
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
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When you become a member of CPSR, you are joining a nationwide
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network of computer professionals who are committed to bringing
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social responsibility to all aspects of computer technology. CPSR
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sponsors, supports, and participates in conferences, roundtables and
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meetings on advanced issues in computing, local civic networks,
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cryptography, participatory design, and computers and social change.
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Every fall the CPSR Annual Meeting brings together the foremost
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representatives of the technology industry to explore current topics
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in seminars and panel discussions. Our conferences and chapter
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meetings provide important opportunities to meet other members and
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share ideas and expertise.
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OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE:
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* a quarterly newsletter which provides in-depth analysis of key
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issues in computing as well as updates on CPSR activities and
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action alerts,
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* an organized voice for socially responsible computing in
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Washington,
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* well-researched public testimony and public policy development,
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* invitations and discounts to CPSR events,
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* discounts on research papers, books, and educational videotapes,
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* on-line information and discussion of key issues in computing,
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* membership in a local CPSR chapter (where available) and notices
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of chapter meetings and activities,
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* participation in local and national working groups which allow you
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to have effective impact on the issues you care about,
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* information and referral about crucial issues in computing.
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ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
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CPSR National Office
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P.O. Box 717
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Palo Alto, CA 94301
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415-322-3778
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415-322-3798 (FAX)
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E-mail: cpsr@csli.stanford.edu
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CPSR Cambridge Office
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P.O. Box 962
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Cambridge, MA 02142
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617-625-6985
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chapman@lcs.mit.edu
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CPSR Washington Office
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666 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Suite 303
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Washington, D.C. 20003
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202-544-9240
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202-547-5481 FAX
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rotenberg@washofc.cpsr.org
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Staff
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Managing Director, Evelyn Pine
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Assistant to the Director, Nikki Draper
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Cambridge Office Director, Gary Chapman
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Washington Office Director, Marc Rotenberg
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PRIVACY NOTICE: The CPSR membership database is never sold, rented,
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lent, exchanged, or used for anything other than official CPSR
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activity. CPSR may elect to send members mailings with information
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from other groups, but the mailings will always originate with CPSR.
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====================== clip and mail ==========================
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CPSR MEMBERSHIP FORM
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Name _________________________________________________________
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Address _________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________
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City/State/Zip __________________________________________________
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Home phone ____________________ Work phone _____________________
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Company _________________________________________________________
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Type of work ____________________________________________________
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E-mail address __________________________________________________
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CPSR Chapter
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__ Acadiana __ Austin __ Berkeley
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__ Boston __ Chicago __ Denver/Boulder
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__ Los Angeles __ Madison __ Maine
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__ Milwaukee __ Minnesota __ New Haven
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__ New York __ Palo Alto __ Philadelphia
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__ Pittsburgh __ Portland __ San Diego
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__ Santa Cruz __ Seattle __ Washington, DC
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__ No chapter in my area
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CPSR Membership Categories
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__ $ 75 REGULAR MEMBER
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__ $ 50 Basic member
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__ $ 200 Supporting member
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__ $ 500 Sponsoring member
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__ $1000 Lifetime member
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__ $ 20 Student/low income member
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__ $ 50 Foreign subscriber
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__ $ 50 Library/institutional subscriber
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Additional tax-deductible contribution to support CPSR projects:
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__ $50 __ $75 __ $100 __ $250
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__ $500 __ $1000 __ Other
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Total Enclosed: $ ________
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Make check out to CPSR and mail to:
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CPSR
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P.O. Box 717
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Palo Alto, CA 94301
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--
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The League for Programming Freedom
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----------------------------------
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Protect Your Freedom to Write Programs
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Join the League for Programming Freedom
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(Version of January 15, 1993)
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Ten years ago, programmers were allowed to write programs using all
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the techniques they knew, and providing whatever features they felt
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were useful. This is no longer the case. New monopolies, known as
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software patents and interface copyrights, have taken away our
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freedom of expression and our ability to do a good job.
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"Look and feel" lawsuits attempt to monopolize well-known command
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languages; some have succeeded. Copyrights on command languages
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enforce gratuitous incompatibility, close opportunities for
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competition, and stifle incremental improvements.
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Software patents are even more dangerous; they make every design
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decision in the development of a program carry a risk of a lawsuit,
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with draconian pretrial seizure. It is difficult and expensive to
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find out whether the techniques you consider using are patented; it
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is impossible to find out whether they will be patented in the
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future.
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The League for Programming Freedom is a grass-roots organization of
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professors, students, businessmen, programmers and users dedicated to
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bringing back the freedom to write programs. The League is not
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opposed to the legal system that Congress intended--copyright on
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individual programs. Our aim is to reverse the recent changes made
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by judges in response to special interests, often explicitly
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rejecting the public interest principles of the Constitution.
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The League works to abolish the new monopolies by publishing
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articles, talking with public officials, boycotting egregious
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offenders, and in the future may intervene in court cases. On May
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24, 1989, the League picketed Lotus headquarters on account of their
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lawsuits, and then again on August 2, 1990. These marches stimulated
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widespread media coverage for the issue. We welcome suggestions for
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other activities, as well as help in carrying them out.
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Membership dues in the League are $42 per year for programmers,
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managers and professionals; $10.50 for students; $21 for others.
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Please give more if you can. The League's funds will be used for
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filing briefs; for printing handouts, buttons and signs; whatever
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will persuade the courts, the legislators, and the people. You may
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not get anything personally for your dues--except for the freedom to
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write programs. The League is a non-profit corporation, but not
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considered a tax-exempt charity. However, for those self-employed in
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software, the dues can be a business expense.
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The League needs both activist members and members who only pay their
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dues. We also greatly need additional corporate members; contact us
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for information.
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If you have any questions, please write to the League, phone
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(617) 433-7071, or send Internet mail to lpf@uunet.uu.net
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Jack Larsen, President
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Dean Anderson, Secretary
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Steve Sisak, Treasurer
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Jack Larsen can be contacted at (708) 698-1160; Fax (708) 698-6221.
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To join, please send a check and the following information to:
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League for Programming Freedom
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1 Kendall Square #143
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P.O.Box 9171
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Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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(Outside the US, please send a check in US dollars on a bank having a
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US correspondant bank, to save us check cashing fees.)
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Your name:
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The address for League mailings, a few each year; please indicate
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whether it is your home address or your work address:
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The company you work for, and your position:
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Your phone numbers (home, work or both):
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Your email address, so we can contact you for demonstrations or for
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writing letters. (If you don't want us to contact you for these
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things, please say so, but please give us your email address anyway
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so we can save paper and postage by sending you the newsletter by
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email.)
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Is there anything about you which would enable your endorsement of
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the LPF to impress the public? For example, if you are or have been
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a professor or an executive, or have written software that has a good
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reputation, please tell us.
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Would you like to help with LPF activities?
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The corporate charter of the League for Programming Freedom states:
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The purpose of the corporation is to engage in the following
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activities:
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1. To determine the existence of, and warn the public about
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restrictions and monopolies on classes of computer programs where such
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monopolies prevent or restrict the right to develop certain types of
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computer programs.
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2. To develop countermeasures and initiatives, in the public interest,
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effective to block or otherwise prevent or restrain such monopolistic
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activities including education, research, publications, public
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assembly, legislative testimony, and intervention in court proceedings
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involving public interest issues (as a friend of the court).
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3. To engage in any business or other activity in service of and
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related to the foregoing paragraphs that lawfully may be carried on
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by a corporation organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts
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General Laws.
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The officers and directors of the League will be elected annually by
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the members.
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