From: "Bhatt, Anjana" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 17:16:01 +0000

We conduct more than 30 to 40 trials in an academic year but we have
never been asked to sign a license agreement for a trial.  All we
provide is our IP ranges because we do have a policy to not to set up
trials with use ID and passwords etc.

I think you should explain to them that you can sign an agreement only
in case of a purchase.  You can also state that it is not your policy
to sign agreement for the trial and if the vendor still does not back
down then you have an option to not to trial their product, resulting
which they will surely not get any business from you.

I perfectly agree with you about legal department not willing to go
through the review and signature formalities when the product may not
even be purchased.

My two cents>>>> good luck.

Anjana

Thank you.

Anjana  H. Bhatt
University Librarian (Electronic Resources)
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501, FGCU Blvd (South)
Fort Myers, FL: 33965-6565
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://library.fgcu.edu/FAC/abhatt/bhatt.htm


-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Williams <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:32:33 -0500

I would like to add a question to Nancy's. How common is it for
vendors to require a signed agreement for a trial?  I've just
encountered this for the first time and my director is balking. The
vendor admits that they are "new at this" (they are a new company) but
does not show any signs of backing down on this requirement.

Just my opinion, I can understand that legal may want to avoid the
trialing of products that have completely untenable license
stipulations.  But it is their job to negotiate those licenses.  And
while getting a feel for what would need negotiating may sound like a
good idea, it seems like a waste of their time when they don't know if
the product will be picked up or not.

Thank you,

Jennifer C. Williams
Electronic Resources & Collection Development Librarian J.F. Drake
Memorial LRC Alabama A& M University [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----

From: Nancy Egan <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:53:38 +0000

Hello. Are there any librarians who work in public institutions who’ve
had to have legal counsel look over (and approve) a vendor’s licensing
agreement just to run a database trial?  In one instance here, a
vendor required a signature for a trial so the lawyer had to sign.
However, now there’s been some suggestion that any vendor licenses
should be reviewed before a trial—regardless of whether a signature is
needed or not. Is this required (or has it been “suggested”) anywhere
else?

Thanks, Nancy Egan