RE: SciFinder Scholar Contract (fwd)

["Rickerson, George" <RickersonG@umsystem.edu>]

We recently licensed SciFinder Scholar for the University of Missouri.  
This product is different from most that we trial in that CAS had to
"loan" us client software in order for us to be able to try the product
out.  For most other products we try, if we don't buy, the service is
turned off and the vendor has no exposure.  For SciFinder Scholar, after
the trial we would still have the client software and, in the absence of
an agreement, could give it away or otherwise do things with it that CAS
doesn't want us to do. All in all it does seem reasonable for CAS to want
an agreement in place before loaning the client software to a customer.

************************************
George Rickerson, Director Library Systems Office
University of Missouri
615 Locust Street #200
Columbia, MO 65211
rickersong@umsystem.edu
573-882-7233        573-882-6107 fax
************************************ 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe Kraus [mailto:jokraus@du.edu]
> Sent: Sunday, October 18, 1998 4:23 PM
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: SciFinder Scholar Contract (fwd)
> 
>The Univ. of Denver is considering getting CAS's SciFinder Scholar
>product.  However, even before we can trial the database and 
>the interface for 30 days, we need to sign a contract agreement with them
>before the trial.  After talking with the CAS rep - Christopher Faine - I
>learned that we could not sign two agreements, one for the trial, and 
>then one for the paid license.  (Maybe it is more of a case for the CAS
>to /strongly prefer/ one contract?)  Once we sign a contract for the 
>trial, it would presumably be the same contract for the license, thus we 
>could not make any changes.
> 
>I do not see how it makes sense for us to involve our lawyer to look at
>the legal wording of a contract BEFORE a decision on purchase 
>is made.  I would want our lawyer to make any necessary changes to the 
>contract AFTER the University has made a decision to purchase.  But, I
>guess that CAS will not allow such changes.
> 
>I know that other institutions can't divulge the details of their contract
>agreements with the CAS, but I would like to know how others 
>have dealt with similar situations - whether from the CAS or not.
> 
>I usually do not concern myself with vendor contracts, so I don't
>know if this is typical of the CAS. (ie. We must sign a contract BEFORE
>agreeing to purchase.)  I do know that many other science info vendors are
>much more open to giving 30 day trials without making you sign a contract
>first.  
> 
>Do I have any alternatives?  Any thoughts - ideas?
> ________________________________________________________________
> Joseph R. Kraus   Science Librarian   Penrose Library   
> Univ. of Denver   2150 E. Evans       Denver, CO 80208
> (303) 871-4586    jokraus@du.edu      http://www.du.edu/~jokraus