CQ Press Hosting Fee & Relationship to Existing License

["Okerson, Ann" <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

As readers may be aware, Sage Publishers bought CQ (Congressional 
Quarterly) Press back in early June. Our library recently 
received correspondence from CQ Press informing us that an annual 
hosting fee for perpetual-access backfiles was being introduced, 
in order to "support the highest quality standards for 
institutional access to our perpetual access resources."

Though the requested fee is moderate, the introduction of this 
fee is contrary to the language in our existing license with CQ 
Press (dated October 2005), which, in the section on the 
"Perpetual Electronic Ownership Rights Option" (Section XIV), 
states that "Licensee shall be billed a one-time fee for the 
ownership option." (We are currently also paying an annual 
subscription fee for electronic access.)  There is language to 
the effect that provisions shall survive any termination of this 
agreement.  In any case, we checked with CQ Press and confirmed 
that the existing license remains in force.

Does the publisher have a contractual obligation to us? Under 
what conditions might such an obligation be changed?  We welcome 
your thoughts.

Thank you, Ann Okerson/Yale Library