From: "Dixon, John ([log in to unmask])" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2015 11:35:16 +0000

Thanks to all who replied to my initial post about the EBSCO product license. Quite a few different interpretations, not surprising given the ambiguous nature of the wording. EBSCO have also contacted me to clarify what they meant by the last two lines in bold at the end of section B. According to EBSCO:

What we are trying to achieve in the license terms below is the situation where an individual has access to EBSCO resources through one institution and is also utilising the hardware/network at another institution.

For example, we could have a situation where an individual is a member of the NHS has an Athens ID that gives them access to resources for the NHS but happens to be in the Canterbury Library or using your network to access the NHS resources they have access too, this clause would allow the user to access their resources at your institution within the licence terms.

Alternatively, you may have a visiting student from another university at your library or on your network who is also able to access the resources provided by their university on your network.

All the best

John

John Dixon
Library Systems Officer
Canterbury Christ Church University
Email: [log in to unmask]

 

From: "Dixon, John ([log in to unmask])"
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:49:19 +0000

Dear all

I’ve been reading the EBSCO product license, at

http://support.ebsco.com/ehost/terms.html

and I’m a bit confused by section B.

The last part two lines which I’ve put in bold are a bit unclear. When I first read these two lines I thought it was referring categorically to users at non-subscribing institutions. Taken in this vein these lines suggest that users from non-subscribing institutions are allowed remote access as long as it is for personal use (but not for commercial or cost-reduction)

However, earlier in the paragraph it has been stated that remote access for non-subscribing institutions is prohibited:

“security procedures are undertaken that will prevent remote access by institutions, employees at non-subscribing institutions or individuals, that are not parties to this Agreement”

So on second reading I thought maybe these two lines refer to the ‘patrons of subscribing institutions’ mentioned in the sentence before the two in bold?

This is the paragraph in question:

B. The Licensee is authorized to provide on-site access through the Sites to the Databases and Services to any Authorized User. The Licensee may not post passwords to the Databases or Services on any publicly indexed websites. The Licensee and Sites are authorized to provide remote access to the Databases and Services only to their patrons as long as security procedures are undertaken that will prevent remote access by institutions, employees at non-subscribing institutions or individuals, that are not parties to this Agreement who are not expressly and specifically granted access by EBSCO. For the avoidance of doubt, if Licensee provides remote access to individuals on a broader scale than was contemplated at the inception of this Agreement then EBSCO may hold the Licensee in breach and suspend access to the Database(s) or Services. Remote access to the Databases or Services is permitted to patrons of subscribing institutions accessing from remote locations for personal, non-commercial use. However, remote access to the Databases or Services from non-subscribing institutions is not allowed if the purpose of the use is for commercial gain through cost reduction or avoidance for a non-subscribing institution. Remote access for personal use from these institutions is permissible.

I’m pretty sure that EBSCO are trying to say that users at non-subscribing institutions cannot access their resources, but I think this isn’t clear in the wording of the licence. It would be nice to see how others interpret this paragraph.

Many thanks

John

John Dixon
Library Systems Officer
Canterbury Christ Church University
Email: [log in to unmask]