Re: Control of concurrent users

[David Goodman <dgoodman@Princeton.EDU>]

It sounds like they copied their license from someone else and never read
it, and are totally lacking in technical expertise as well. If this is
their level of competence, are you sure you want their database?

It should be possible though certainly a nuisance, to have them to issue
you three passwords, which you could put up on a page restricted by the
server to your users--that is if they're even capable of providing
password access.

--
David Goodman
Biology Librarian, and
Co-Chair, Electronic Journals Task Force
Princeton University Library
dgoodman@princeton.edu         http://www.princeton.edu/~biolib/
phone: 609-258-3235            fax: 609-258-2627

____

M Ros Doig wrote:
> 
> Dear All
> 
> With reference to my query of a few weeks ago, there is a clause in the
> license in question which states 'subscriber shall use all reasonable
> endeavours to restrict and control all use of the data bases.'
> 
> Unfortunately it seems that the supplier of the database cannot themselves
> control the number of users! We here cannot control numbers of concurrent
> users on web-based databases etc. We have several hundred PCs on 5 sites!!
> I feel the onus is on suppliers to restrict use, not ourselves. It would
> also seem to make a mockery of their clause which allows them to audit
> use. If they can't control the users , audit would be difficult especially
> at a distance.
> 
> Since we only really want one user but the minimum is three , we find the
> supplier's solution to charge us double for unlimited access totally
> unacceptable.
> 
> Has anyone else come across this kind of thing and how did you deal with
> it? I certainly can't sign the licence if control is our responsibility.
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
> 
> Ros Doig
> Serials and Interlending Librarian
> University of Derby
> Kedleston Rd
> Derby DE22 1GB
> 
> Tel.    01332 622222 Ext.1204
> Fax.    01332 622767
> Email.  M.R.Doig@Derby.ac.uk