McIDAS Software* Acquisition and Distribution Policies
                           Effective 1 July 1997


This McIDAS software policy became effective 1 July 1997. Software
documentation and other changes in relevant policy documents necessary to
reflect these new policies may not occur prior to 1 July, but will be made
as soon as practical.

Policy:

1. McIDAS software will be distributed with no acquisition fee to all MUG
   members and all SSEC Principal Investigators (hereinafter "Sponsors").

2. Sponsors are free to modify the McIDAS software in whole or in part, and
   to redistribute this software or portions thereof at no acquisition cost
   to other users with whom they are collaborating or have an active research
   involvement (hereinafter "Sponsored Users"). (Note to Sponsors: Sponsored
   users will be counted when determining your MUG category and fees.)

3. All Sponsors and Sponsored Users must understand and agree that the
   software or any portion thereof may not be sold or redistributed for any
   consideration.

4. The McIDAS software is copyrighted, and as such it may not be reproduced
   or redistributed (except for safeguarding purposes) without the expressed
   permission of SSEC. This policy statement constitutes SSEC's expressed
   permission to Sponsors to redistribute the software.

5. There is no expressed or implied warranty made to anyone as to the
   suitability of this software for any purpose. All risk of usage is
   assumed by the user. Users agree not to hold SSEC, the University of
   Wisconsin-Madison, or any of its employees or assigns liable for any
   consequences resulting from the use of the McIDAS software.

Rights and Responsibilities of Sponsors

1. Sponsors may modify and further distribute either the original or their
   modified software, in whole or in part, under the conditions of this
   policy change statement.

2. Sponsors must provide a copy of this policy statement to each Sponsored
   User prior to providing the software, and obtain from the proposed
   Sponsored User a signed/dated acknowledgment of their receipt and
   understanding of this policy statement. A signed/dated copy of this
   policy statement is considered an adequate acknowledgment.

3. Sponsors must notify SSEC via e-mail at mug@ssec.wisc.edu or by letter
   to the MUG when and to whom they have furnished the McIDAS software.

4. Sponsors are obligated to provide primary support to their Sponsored
   Users, such as support for questions, upgrades, training, documentation,
   etc., unless the Sponsored User opts to join the MUG by paying the
   appropriate membership fees.

5. Sponsors may not authorize further redistribution or resale of the McIDAS
   software beyond the Sponsored User without creating a new Sponsored User
   responding directly to them, i.e., no second tier Sponsored Users.

6. Sponsors must keep on file the signed/dated policy statement received
   from their Sponsored Users.

Responsibilities of Sponsored Users

1. Each Sponsored User must provide written acknowledgment that they have
   received this policy statement and that they understand that the software
   may not to be sold or redistributed in whole or in part for any
   consideration without the permission of SSEC. Acknowledgment may take
   the form of an endorsement to this policy statement.

2. Sponsored Users will be obligated to use their Sponsor as their primary
   support for questions, upgrades, training, documentation, etc., unless
   they opt to join the MUG by paying the appropriate membership fees.

3. Sponsored Users may apply to join the MUG if they desire more direct
   support, pay the appropriate MUG fees and abide by the MUG Policy Document.
   Or, they are free to solicit direct training, assistance and support from
   SSEC on a contractual basis.

4. Sponsored Users who wish to access the SSEC real-time data base must have
   their McIDAS software current to within the last nine months or risk being
   denied access to the real-time data base. This is to insure reliable access
   to the data as SSEC may evolve data formats, communications protocols, and
   data base architecture.

5. Sponsored User access to the SSEC data base requires a separate data base
   access agreement with SSEC. User support of this activity will be provided
   as stated in item 3 or 4 above.

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* The McIDAS software is defined as those software sets, or any portion
  thereof, commonly known as McIDAS-OS2 and McIDAS-X.