READI

(Rights for Electronic Access to and Delivery of Information)

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BACKUP

Definition

A backup is another term for a duplicate delivery system. One example of such a system is a CD-ROM version of an online system containing similar (or identical) information.

Discussion

Many agreements call for the vendor to supply the buyer with duplicate delivery systems (or backups) in order to ensure that end-users are served continuously during downtimes and other malfunctions of the primary delivery system.

Certain vendors allow buyers to keep their backup systems, even after the contract or license comes to an end. Others, on the other hand, call for the buyer to destroy backup files. The destruction may, in part, be the result of whether the vendor is a primary or secondary publisher. Certain primary publishers agree to allow buyers to keep their backup versions on the theory that the information they are providing to the customer in electronic form is similar to that provided in print.

Third-party vendors, on the other hand, since they often do not own the information do not possess the same proprietary rights to the information as do primary publishers. In many cases, therefore, third-party vendors cannot allow buyers to maintain backup copies indefinitely.

It is recommended wherever possible, therefore, that institutions require vendors (either primary or third-party) to provide backup sources of information (CD-ROM, magnetic tape, etc.) in addition to online services. This research revealed that increasingly, buyers are asking for back run files for their online services. These contain the files available to the buyer up until the termination point.

Benefits

For the buyer, duplicate delivery systems allow for the free flow of information to end-users, even during downtime and during malfunctions of the network system.

Risks

For the vendor, there is an additional expense in monitoring and providing additional copies of the information in different formats to each buyer.

For the buyer, there are additional costs associated with the maintenance and security of additional copies, passwords, or access points.

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Any comments, or feedback?		Last Update:   Wednesday, 03 July, 2002 - 04:22 PM - EDT