From: UK medical / health care library community / information workers <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Hall, Simon J
Sent: 19 February 2020 09:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: BNF and BNFC Use by Students

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What the document doesn’t say is where the licence should be obtained from or how much it costs.

 

Most universities will have a Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) Licence for Higher Education and the print version of BNF is covered by this licence according to the CLA website.

 

 

However, it is true that use of the app will not be covered. On the Google Play website, the terms and conditions for use of this app are hidden under ‘About this app’ and then a hyperlink to the terms and conditions and then look for section B which is for non-NHS users.

 

The information in the document supplied by Jane mentions only the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and makes no mention of the CLA Licence.

 

The documents and phone call do make me wonder whether the rep is being deliberately vague to try to frighten people into taking out some additional licence.

 

 

 

Hi John,

As I work at the RPS I thought I ought to look into this.  Having spoken with a member of our PhP sales team, this is what they said –

RPS are required by NICE to ensure that the BNF is available as freely as possible to NHS users, and that is why there isn’t a complex sign up process or tick box to the terms. I’m sure that everyone understands that a doctor under pressure on a busy A&E ward needs access to medicines information as quickly as possible! Whilst it might look like the app is free, the attached information should explain why universities still need to take a licence if students are required to access the BNF as part of their course because the NICE arrangement isn’t designed to cover that.

 

Please see the attached notes.

 

I hope this information helps.

 

Best wishes,

Jane

 

 

Jane Trodd

Librarian

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

 

Direct: +44 (0) 207 572 2300

 

Email: [log in to unmask]

 

68 East Smithfield, London, E1W 1AW

 

www.rpharms.com

 

Please note this post is shared Monday-Tuesday (Jane Trodd), Wednesday-Friday (Karen Horn).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear All

 

I just have received a phone call from a rep selling the BNF and BNFC for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

 

He stated that under the terms of the BNF agreement with the NHS, students are not permitted to use the NICE website or BNF app while off placement, and we must purchase a separate licence.

 

Bit from the licence agreement below

 

SECTION B: TERMS FOR NON-NHS USERS
1.4 Access to the App. You shall provide us with accurate information when signing up to and using the App, including that you are over 18 years old.

1.5 Fees. The App is only available for non-NHS Users where You (or someone on Your behalf) have paid for an App licence which has not expired or terminated. If the App or any App Materials are accessed by You or a person who is not an NHS User (and who is not authorised by PhP to use the App under an existing App licence) owing to a breach by You of the Terms and Conditions, PhP may charge You a fee reflecting the excess use and access of the same.

1.6 Automatic termination. This Agreement will automatically terminate upon the expiry or termination of Your App licence.

 

What gives? As users of both the BNFC/BNF on the NICE website and the app do not agree (I checked) to this licence term, and therefore would be unaware of the liability of access fees? Also the document states that “citing the BNF for coursework.” requires us to subscribe. We hold the paper copies.

 

Quite puzzled by all this, advice very welcome!

 

Best regards

 

John Barbrook

 

Faculty Librarian (Science and Technology, Health and Medicine)

The Library

Lancaster University

Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YH

 

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