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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND TERMS OF USE

A simple statement of purpose

    As a start-up enterprise, Spoken Language International (SLI) would face large marketing expenses before a profit could be earned from the Spoken English Learned Quickly course. This would be particularly true in the overseas market where many countries are at a disadvantage because of the exchange rate with the U.S. dollar. Conventional marketing would require expensive international advertising and sales. This would require a retail price of $425 for the complete course containing the printed 410-page Student Workbook and an audio tape album of 16 one-hour tapes. On the other hand, a compact disc (CD) format in which students would be able to print their own Student Workbook would bring the price down to $135. Spoken English Learned Quickly is worth it. It is a carefully-crafted spoken English course which required four years to develop. But could we survive the up-front costs, and could we find international students who could afford to pay for it?

    There is another solution. By making this course available for free downloading to a student's computer, we do not have the costs that would normally be associated with printing, tape reproduction, packaging and overseas shipping. Furthermore, no one could be a better salesperson for us in Sao Paulo, Beijing, Addis Ababa, Kiev, Antananarivo, Berlin, New Delhi, Mexico City, Tokyo, or anywhere else than the university student or professional who was satisfied that they made rapid progress using our course.

    From a marketing standpoint, we could accomplish the most with a minimal cash outlay through building our "client base" by offering free lessons. The further advantage is that this marketing plan would do others the most service by providing real language learning rather than just giving them a glossy brochure.

    Distributing a language course should not be motivated solely by economic considerations. Language is the most distinctive cultural trait of humanity. We find great satisfaction in sharing this aspect of our shared humanity with individuals throughout our world. Therefore, we have a genuinely altruistic motive in making the Spoken English Learned Quickly course available to those who want to learn English. We are offering something that many perceive as being personally valuable. We wish all our potential students the greatest success in learning English, and we will find pleasure in their accomplishment.

Acceptance of Terms Through Use

    By using Spoken English Learned Quickly (SELQ) or any related material, you signify your agreement to all terms, conditions, and notices contained or referenced herein. ^¶-1

    The SELQ language course is freely downloadable through our website. Additionally, the course may be made available to individuals and organizations by means of Compact Discs (CD)s. Acceptance and use of these free materials does not constitute license for their continued use. At any time, at SLI's sole discretion, the course may become a "for-sale" product.^¶-2

    Availability on a SLI sponsored freely downloadable website defines the limit of the "free use" time period in the life of the SELQ course. During such time as the entire course is placed on the website for free downloading, the course is in a "free use" state. At any time at which portions of the course are not available for free downloading, the course is no longer defined as being "free use."^¶-3

    Any offer of free materials by SLI assigns no obligation on our part, including but not limited to, the preparation and mailing of any such material, nor the custom services or costs on receipt by international mail. Continuation of any offer of free material is neither warranted nor implied. When purchase orders are processed through SLI or its affiliate Free English Now (FEN) and paid for by the customer, SLI assumes no financial responsibility for loss or delay through either domestic or international mail or for any other cause. Similarly, any offer of free services through the FEN website (such as free listing for those selling CDs or those offering translation services) may be terminated at any time by FEN without notification or liability. FEN also has the right to deny any request by an individual or organization for such listing at FEN's sole discretion. ^¶-4

    All written (including translated) material or correspondence submitted to SLI or FEN becomes the property of SLI unless agreed to in writing prior to the translation or correspondence submission date. Any such correspondence or translation may be used by SLE without compensation to the author.^¶-5

    Any user of SELQ courses, or the user of any material stated or supplied by SLI, whether private, institutional, or commercial, indemnifies SLI of any and all claims for any liability incurred in the use of published or downloaded materials in the SELQ lessons. Full liability for all marketing, use, and resale of the course by an individual or commercial firm becomes that individual's or firm's sole responsibility.^¶-6

    All material published by SLI is copyright-protected and may not be reprinted for the purpose of resale except as allowed by the exceptions as stated. However, for the time period during which this material is made available for free downloading through a SLI affiliated website (www.FreeEnglishNow.com) as "free use," the SELQ lessons in their entirety may be reproduced for individual use or resale without requesting permission.^¶-7

    Under no circumstances is any portion of SELQ to be loaded on any commercial or individual website, notwithstanding any "free use" period. SLI maintains the only website source of these lessons. The only exception to this statement is when a "Short" version specifically designed for website posting is supplied by FREE ENGLISH NOW on its own, or an affiliate, website. ^¶-8

    The entire SELQ course may also be supplied to organizations or individuals in CD format. During the "free use" period, an organization or individual may reproduce the course in print, recorded audio cassette tape, or CD format for individual distribution to students. Teachers using SLI materials (generally, those teaching English either gratis or for charge) may sell their service, including the SELQ course, to individual students at any price fixed by the Teacher. Any Teacher acts entirely in his or her own behalf. A Teacher is not an agent of SLI. Upon termination of the "free use" period, the SELQ course will not be reproducible for commercial sale in any form, including CD format.^¶-9

    Schools (either public or religious educational institutions) may allow students to copy the CD for personal use as long as the conditions of "free use" are in effect. However, the student is bound by the same restrictions placed on the school for SELQ's use. In no case can a CD be altered by deleting any portion of the file material before students are allowed to make copies.^¶-10

    All permission to reproduce any of the SELQ material includes the following:^¶-11

1. During the "free use" time period, SLI allows Teachers or merchants to reprint the text and audio-record the SELQ lessons as stated above, provided that the following conditions are met:^¶-11.a

   • SLI is free to revoke allowance for reproduction and resale at any time without advance notice. Such revocation may include all who are reproducing the material or may name only a single publisher. At its sole discretion, SLI may choose to either prevent the publisher's(s') remaining stock from entering the resale market, or may establish a royalty payable to SLI as a condition of sale, in an amount determined solely by SLI.^¶-11.a.1

   • Any materials reproduced for resale must carry the SLI copyright notice (and American Bib. Society copyright notice, where applicable).^¶-11.a.2

   • Materials used for resale must be reproduced from either computer downloaded text and audio files or from CDs supplied by Spoken Language International. Permission is never granted to alter either the prerecorded audio or text material for resale publication.^¶-11.a.3

   • Additional or supplementary material may never be added to the existing SELQ lesson CD. Any supplementary material published in CD format must be placed on a CD distinctly different from the SELQ CD and be identifiable as coming from a source other than SELQ. Equally, supplementary printed material must identify itself as coming from a publisher other than SELQ.^¶-11.a.4

   • Resale publication must use the full text and audio reproduction including an unaltered Lesson Text portion for each lesson in which it is used.^¶-11.a.5

   • Notwithstanding the above, material normally included on the SELQ website (or CD) may be omitted on the CD offered for sale. A CD may be sold which contains only lessons and/or audio portions without including articles and other non-lesson material if the SELQ lessons and audio material has not been altered and the CD contains only material published by SELQ. ^¶-11.a.6

   • If the CD being offered for sale complies with everything as stated above, we allow the home page header to be altered to advertise another organization, business, or seller of the CDs. The header may be linked to that organization's, business', or seller's website.^¶-11.a.7

2. The quotation material used in the Lesson Text belongs to the American Bib. Society and is protected by their copyright. SLI operates under the permission granted to any user of the Good News Testament (GNT) and has no authority to transfer permission to any other individual. The GNT copyright page states:^¶-11.b
   • The American Bib. Society is glad to grant authors and publishers the right to use up to five hundred (500) verses from the text in church, religious and other publications without the need to seek and receive written permission. However, the extent of quotation must not comprise a complete book nor should it amount to more than 25% of the work. The proper copyright notice must appear on the title or copyright page.^¶-11.b.1
   • When quotations from the GNT are used in non-salable media such as church bulletins, orders of service, poster, transparencies or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (GNT) must appear at the end of each quotation.^¶-11.b.2
   • Request for quotation in excess of five hundred (500) verses in any publication must be directed to, and written approval received from, the American Bib. Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023. ^¶-11.b.3

    If you do not agree to the Terms of Use as specified above, please do not proceed with use of the SELQ course.^¶-12

    SLI reserves the right, at its discretion, to update or revise these Terms of Use.^¶-13

    Should ownership of SELQ be transferred to any third party, all rights to SELQ and direction of same become the property of that third party as agreed to between SLI and said third party. Provisions of this Terms of Use statement would subsequently be transferable to said third party and all users of the SELQ material. There will be no implied encumbrances to SELQ from any other party's use of SELQ.^¶-14