Licensing E-Books: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Abstract

As e-books settle into the academic market, the relationship between publishers, vendors, and libraries grows more complex. This article highlights how licenses, which govern this business affair, are no exception. From aggregators to individual publishers, from large STM companies to small societies, e-book enterprises must acknowledge library values in order to remain economically viable. For the benefit of all parties involved, new and better ways of balancing the profit-driven goal of selling e-books and the educational benefit of lending e-books need to be negotiated. In an environment where communication is encouraged, flexible licenses and subscription models can balance these issues.