JISC Model Licence
The basis of all JISC Collections agreements is the JISC Model Licence and the NESLi2 Model Licence in the case of e-journals.
These licences come from a framework agreed by PALS (Publisher and Library/Learning Solutions), a working group of publishers and the library community. However, over the years JISC Collections has developed and amended the licence in response to:
- Changes in user needs
- Changes in technology
- Developments in the JISC Information Environment standards
There are currently four types of the JISC Model Licence. The most up-to-date version of each model licence is available for download:
The terms and conditions governing who can use an online resource, and how it can be used are similar for both the dataset and eBooks model licences. Differences relate to specific characteristics associated with the online resource type and format. For example, the JISC Model Licence for eBooks secures an archival copy of a title in perpetuity. Further models for other resources may be created in future in accordance with new developments in online resource provision and delivery. For more information please see the Guide to the JISC Model Licence.
The NESLi2 Model Licence for Journals is the model licence used by JISC staff and the Nesli2 negotiation agents in negotiations with publishers for JISC journal agreements. It is based on the Model NESLI Site Licence used by the NESLI Managing Agent in negotiations with publishers for NESLI agreements (which was in turn based on the PA/JISC draft model licence) and was approved by the JISC's NESLI Steering Group in 1999 for use by the NESLI Managing Agent. For further information please see the NESLi2 website.
The ideals of the JISC Model Licence
The ideals JISC Collections work to when negotiating agreements with publishers are as follows:
- Agreements are open to all UK higher and further education institutions and where possible the research councils.
- Once an institution takes out a licence agreement all staff and students in that institution have unlimited, simultaneous access, whether working from campus or from home.
- Distance learners also have access to the resources.
- Staff and students of the institution can incorporate extracts from the licensed resources in all types of teaching and learning materials whether electronic or paper. This includes course packs, PowerPoint presentations, VLEs (Virtual Learning Environments), dissertations, project work, etc. The only requirement for such use is usually that the material is properly cited.
- Staff can adapt materials to meet the special needs of students – e.g. in Braille format.
- Where possible, institutions have archival rights to the material post-cancellation.
The definitions used in the JISC Model Licence
Some basic definitions in the JISC Model Licence enable online resources to be fully utilised in education and research while protecting the publishers' intellectual property. They also help ensure that the JISC and subscribing institutions do not fall into breach of licence and therefore risk litigation.
Key definitions are as follows:
- Authorised Institution : Must receive funding from a UK funding council
- Authorised users : Must have a direct relationship with the institution – a member of staff or student. Authorised users in this category can access the resources remotely using access management technologies such as Shibboleth or OpenAthens.
- Educational purposes : Must only be used for education and non-commercial research.
- Commercial purposes (for monetary reward or gain) : This is not permitted.
Terms and conditions do vary – so please ALWAYS check each licence agreement.
Additional Authorised User Initiative
The demand to embrace new and diverse activities has led to the emergence of new user groups. These additional users cannot easily access online resources under the existing JISC Model Licence. In order to ensure that the JISC Model Licence continues to meet the diverse needs of institutions, two licensing workshops were held in London and Edinburgh in 2006 to discuss the challenges facing institutions and to ask delegates to make practical recommendations for amendments to the JISC Model Licence.
In response to these recommendations, JISC Collections has begun the Additional Authorised User Initiative. The aim is to widen access to online resources to additional user groups. For more information please see: Additional Authorised User Initiative.