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
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-----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