FAQs
- How does GGfL remunerate Publishers?
- Are there revenue guarantees?
- How much information can Publishers get about usage of their content?
- How is copyright protected?
- Can free content be accessed on Global Grid for Learning?
- Can content be modified by users?
- How will relative weightings be calculated?
- When a file is downloaded, how will licenses be enforced after the expiration of a license?
- What kind of content are you looking for?
- How many Publishers have signed up?
- What is the preferred option: library or discrete (subject or publisher)?
- Will you supply the details of customers?
- What formats are supported?
- What kind of metadata do you need?
- How do I deliver the content to you?
- Does Global Grid for Learning correlate to education standards?
- Can I restrict the distribution of my content to discrete markets?
- Do I have to pay fees for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning Library?
- Do you pay fees upfront for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning?
- What is the relationship with SMART Technologies?
- Can I make my content available through SMART Technologies only?
- Can I use Global Grid for Learning to deliver my content but not to distribute it?
Q: How does GGfL remunerate Publishers?
A: In the following ways:
(i) Library fees
Publishers are paid a proportion of library fees paid by each Global Grid for Learning Library Subscriber or OEM quarterly in arrears based on relative usage.
(ii) Subject Collection Fees
Publishers are paid a proportion of fees paid by each Subject Collection Subscriber quarterly in arrears based on relative usage.
(iii) Media Collection Fees
Publishers are paid a proportion of fees paid by each Subject Collection Subscriber quarterly in arrears based on relative usage.
(iv) Publisher Collection Fees
Publishers are paid agreed royalties on fees paid by each Discrete Collection Subscriber quarterly.
Q: Are there revenue guarantees?
A: There are no revenue guarantees for individual content providers. However, there is a guaranteed content revenue pool which is divided amongst content providers based on relative usage in a given year. This guaranteed content revenue pool grows with each additional member of the Global Grid for Learning distribution network.
Q: How much information can Publishers get about usage of their content?
A: Publishers will be able to access reports on the usage of their content on demand. Monthly reports on relative usage will be generated and issued. In addition, end user statistics will be compiled and issued quarterly.
Q: How is copyright protected?
A: Copyright protection is limited. All subscribers must be validated and agree to an End User License Agreement. Rights will be controlled by password protection i.e. view or download. Image thumbnails are watermarked. You can specify that your content shall be distributed as view only however it should be noted that although this may be a deterrent to abuse it is not a safeguard to the determined copyright abuser. Until a satisfactory digital rights management model is identified, only approved educational institutions will be capable of subscribing to Global Grid for Learning.
Q: Can free content be accessed on Global Grid for Learning?
A: Community resources can be made available through globalgridforlearning.org, for which there is no charge. Free content must meet minimum acceptable standards, such standards to be set by Cambridge in consultation with existing members of Global Grid for Learning. Registered members of globalgridforlearning.com will also be able to search and retrieve community resources at no charge.
Q: Can content be modified by users?
A: Downloaded content can be modified within the constraints of (a) the asset type and (b) the End User License Agreement. Modified content may result in loss of rights and may not be redistributed unless as provided in the End User License Agreement.
Q: How will relative weightings be calculated?
A: Relative weightings will be calculated based on the size of files in megabytes (MBs). Global Grid for Learning plan to introduce a content equivalency model in 2008.
Q: When a file is downloaded, how will licenses be enforced after the expiration of a license?
A: Firstly, subscriber passwords will expire. Secondly, subscribers will be sent a notification outlining the post-subscription restrictions on use. We are currently exploring appropriate digital rights management solutions which will allow tracking of assets and in some instances expiration enforcement.
Q: What kind of content are you looking for?
A: All content is welcome provided it is discrete and meets a minimum quality standard as set by Cambridge in consultation with its partners. Content may be in the form of compound objects such as learning objects (IMS Content Packages) or as discrete resources such as images, video files, audio files or animations.
Q: How many content providers have signed up?
A: The number of publishers and rights management organizations participating in Global Grid for Learning is growing weekly. As of 31 December 2007, over 40 discrete organizations had agreed to participate in Global Grid for Learning representing over 2,000 sources.
Q: What is the preferred option: library or discrete (subject, media type or publisher)?
A: Most Publishers are participating through the library model as it is currently available through SMART Technologies in North America. Publishers with large resource bases have an incentive to add more content into the Global Grid for Learning Library as this increases the likelihood of usage and associated ROI. Some Publishers are seeking to emphasise the differences between the Global Grid for Learning library and the Publisher collections by only making a subset of the discrete collections available through the Global Grid for Learning library e.g. 25% - 50% and emphasising the added value in the Publisher collections i.e. unlimited downloads within the subscription term, increased volume of similar content and added functionality.
Q: Will you supply the details of customers?
A: Details for customers of Publisher collections will be supplied.
Q: What formats are supported?
A: All formats are supported however advanced functionality including automated metadata ingestion, thumbnailing and transcoding are available for a limited subset as appropriate. This subset includes:
Graphic file formats
- EPS
- RGB JPEG
- PNM
- PNG
- RGB TIFF
- BMP
IMS Content Packages
- SCORM 1.2
- SCORM 2004
Other
- SWF
- NBK
Our preferred video format is MPEG 1 or Flash.
Support for advanced format functionality is added as required and in conjunction with the various format owners.
Q: What kind of metadata do you need?
A:Certain metadata is derived from the file on ingestion e.g. file format, size, original filename, ingestion date etc. The minimum metadata required is:
- Title:
- Description:
- Keywords:
- Contributor:
The recommended metadata is:
- Title
- Description
- Keywords
- Contributor
- Subject
- Audience
- Language
Global Grid for Learning can support other metadata and has a number of toolsets and support services for Publishers to support metatagging.
Q: How do I deliver the content to you?
A: Once you sign up with Global Grid for Learning, we will supply you with our “Content Provision Guide”. This guide outlines a number of methods to provide your content to Global Grid for Learning. These include the provision of content via FTP, external hard disk drive and OAI-PMH.
Q: Does Global Grid for Learning correlate to education standards?
A: Our preference is for publishers to supply correlations to education standard within metadata supplied. However, where such correlations are not available, Global Grid for Learning will correlate the content.
Q: Can I restrict the distribution of my content to discrete markets?
A: Yes. Content can be restricted by geographic territory or market segment.
Q: Do I have to pay fees for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning Library?
A: No. There are no fees for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning library. Non-recurring engineering fees may apply for specific customization of Publisher Collections.
Q: What is the relationship with SMART Technologies?
A: SMART Technologies is the exclusive distributor of Global Grid for Learning in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia where Global Grid for Learning will be distributed as SMART Learning Marketplace. Global Grid for Learning is also available worldwide through SMART Notebook. Cambridge University Press is the exclusive manager of all content distribution through SMART Learning Marketplace.
Q: Can I make my content available through SMART Technologies only?
A: Yes. In your agreement, you can restrict content for distribution through SMART Learning Marketplace or SMART Notebook only.
Q: Can I use Global Grid for Learning to deliver my content but not to distribute it?
A: Yes. In your agreement, you can restrict your involvement to Publisher Collections with the proviso that only you can enter into agreements to provide your content but using Global Grid for Learning’s infrastructure and connections to virtual learning environments and other software. Some restrictions and service fees will still apply.
Q: Do you pay fees upfront for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning?
A: No. There are considerable costs involved in making Global Grid for Learning and the associated systems, infrastructure and support available. This represents a significant amount of risk and investment by Cambridge University Press. Furthermore, Cambridge University Press and distribution partners invest heavily in marketing and business development. These platform and commercial costs are only recouped if the project is successful.