Versions of AEShareNet licences
This page lists the current versions of all AEShareNet licence regimes and explains the changes from earlier versions.
Current versions
The current versions of AEShareNet Licence Regimes are:
Instant Licences:
- AEShareNet-FfE version 2 (Free-for-Education)
overview | full legal details
- AEShareNet-U version 4 (Unlocked Content)
overview | full legal details
- AEShareNet-S version 4 (Share and Return)
overview | full legal details
- AEShareNet-P version 4 (Preserve Integrity)
overview | full legal details
Mediated Licences:
- AEShareNet-C version 4 (Commercial Licence)
overview | full legal details
- AEShareNet-E version 2 (End-user Licence)
overview | full legal details
The Licence Protocol for each of the above versions became effective from 31 March 2005.
Previous Versions
Information on the immediately preceding versions of licences is contained
in the Licence
Comparison Table (9.02) of 31 March 2004. Licenses that have arisen under
previous versions are still governed by the conditions current at the time.
Free for Education version 1
In addition material marked with the original Free for Education mark
is still offered under version 1. The only significant changes between version
1 and 2 of FfE are:
· Version 2 has a new graphic mark .
· Version 2 allows Licensors to impose additional 'special conditions'
usually by incorporating them in metadata associated with the licensed material.
· Under version 2 the Licensor is permitted to register their licensed
material on the AEShareNet website to assist discovery. However registration
is not mandatory.
Full legal details of version 1 are in the
Licence Comparison Table (9.02).
Main changes
The main innovations introduced by the current Licence Protocols are:
- Allowing licensors to extend licences under AEShareNet-U, AEShareNet-S and AEShareNet-P by applying a distinctive ‘licence mark’ to the material. This means that these Regimes now operate in the same way as AEShareNet-FfE. The licensee enjoys a licence automatically, upon gaining access to a copy of the licensed material in relation to which the relevant licence mark is applied. The licensor may still choose to register their licence material on the AEShareNet catalogue if they wish, but there is no requirement for ‘acceptance’ by a licensee, and the system does not keep records of any new licences. (Note that licences recorded under the previous Protocols remain in force, and continue to be retained on the system.)
- Opening up AEShareNet-U, AEShareNet-S and AEShareNet-P to any licensor, rather than limiting them to AEShareNet members. Again, this brings these Regimes into line with AEShareNet-FfE.
The above two changes mean that all the Instant Licences operate in the same way.
- Allowing for the Licensor to impose additional ‘special conditions’ under the Instant Licences (AEShareNet-U, AEShareNet-S, AEShareNet-P and AEShareNet-FfE). Usually the Licensee imposes special conditions by incorporating them in metadata associated with the licensed material.
- Providing supporting interpretation for AEShareNet-U, AEShareNet-S, AEShareNet-P and AEShareNet-C in a standalone ‘Licence Glossary and Interpretation’, rather than by reference to provisions of the AEShareNet Charter. This change brings the original four Licence Regimes into line with the two newer Regimes (AEShareNet-FfE and AEShareNet-E, introduced in February 2004). It means that all six Regimes are supported by the same concepts, definitions and rules of interpretation. It also means that both licensors and licensees will generally not need to refer to the AEShareNet Charter in order to interpret a licence.
Other changes
In addition there have been some more specific revisions to particular Licence Regimes. These include:
Instant Licences:
- AEShareNet-FfE: The licensor is now permitted to register their licensed material on the AEShareNet catalogue to assist discovery. However registration is not mandatory; there is no requirement for ‘acceptance’ by the licensee and the system still does not keep records of licences.
- AEShareNet-U: The warranty given by the licensor is more limited that before. Some of the risk of copyright infringement is shifted to the licensee. This is proposed so that AEShareNet-U can be used for ‘unlocking’ content previously withheld because the licensor was not certain that they held all relevant copyright.
- AEShareNet-S: The licence period (previously 2 years) has been made indefinite. The licence territory (previously ‘Australia and New Zealand’) has been enlarged to ‘everywhere’. The licensor is entitled to receive a copy of any enhanced versions of the material that are published by the licensee.
- AEShareNet-P: The licence period (previously 1 year) has been made indefinite.
Mediated Licences:
- AEShareNet-C: The licence period includes an additional option of ‘indefinite’. A new field has been introduced to enable the parties to specify when royalty payments are to cease.
- AEShareNet-E: The licence period (previously ‘indefinite’) now allows for a range of finite periods, as for AEShareNet-C. A new field has been introduced to enable the parties to specify when royalty payments are to cease.
More information
- Licensing Overview provides an introduction to the various AEShareNet licences.
- Licence Glossary
& Explanation (version 2) defines terms used in licences.