FAQs
- How does GGfL remunerate Publishers?
- What is the preferred option?
- How will relative weightings be calculated for content in the GGfL Library?
- Are there revenue guarantees?
- How much information can content providers get about usage of their content?
- How is copyright protected?
- When a file is downloaded, how will licenses be enforced after the expiration of a license?
- Can free content be accessed on Global Grid for Learning?
- Can content be modified by users?
- What kind of content are you looking for?
- How many content providers have signed up?
- Will you supply the details of customers?
- What digital file formats are supported?
- What kind of metadata do you need?
- Does Global Grid for Learning correlate to education standards?
- How do I deliver the content to you?
- 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?
- Can I use Global Grid for Learning to deliver my content but not to distribute it?
- Do you pay fees upfront for making content available through the Global Grid for Learning?
Q: How does GGfL remunerate Publishers?
A: Content providers will receive royalties for inclusion of their content in the GGfL service in the following ways:
(i) GGfL Library
Content providers are paid a proportion of subscription revenues quarterly in arrears for participation in the GGfL Library, with 50% of royalties based on the weighted contribution of their resources within each of the 5 resource types, and 50% on relative usage of their content.
(ii) Discrete Collection Fees
Content providers can publish, co-publish with GGfL, and/or be part of multi-publisher collections of single or multimedia digital learning resources organized around specific subjects and targeted at specific educators and their students. Examples of collections are: Publisher, Subject, or (specific) Media Collections. Depending on the option chosen, providers can suggest the license price to the end user and are paid a proportion of fees paid for each collection quarterly in arrears based on usage.
(iii) Courseware Fees
For content providers with their own courseware, GGfL can extend its reach through its already established integrations and partnerships with learning platforms as well as though its own Learning Platform and via its GGfL on Demand web service. Providers can suggest the license price to the end user and are paid a proportion of fees paid for each collection quarterly in arrears based on usage.
(iv) Increase access to your own resources
Where a content provider already offers digital learning resources to end users via its own e-commerce website, then the reach of its site can be extended to GGfL’s end users using GGfL On Demand’s single sign-on (SSO) solution. In such cases, the content provider will pay GGfL a commission for any sale of its digital learning resources made.
(v) Per resource licensing opportunities
GGfL On Demand allows content providers’ resources to be licensed to end users both on a subscription and/or on a per resource basis. Content providers are paid a proportion of fees paid by end users where their resources are made available on a “pay as you go” basis quarterly in arrears based on usage.
Q: What is the preferred option?
A: We encourage content providers to first take advantage of participating in the GGfL Library as that is our primary offering to end users and in the greatest demand. Content providers with large resource bases have an incentive to add more content into the Library as this increases the likelihood of usage and associated ROI.
Some content providers are seeking to emphasise the differences between the Library and the Discrete Collections by only making a subset of the discrete collections available through the Library, e.g. 25% - 50% and emphasising the added value in the Discrete Collections, i.e. unlimited downloads within the subscription term, increased volume of similar content and added functionality.
For content providers with their own courseware and e-Commerce sites, GGfL offers a perfect way to extend their penetration into the education marketplace at no cost to the provider.
Q: How will relative weightings be calculated for content in the GGfL Library?
A: Content is first classified into each of our 5 resource types: interactive learning objects, videos, audio, images and documents. Depending on the category, weightings will be based on: number of assets; their perceived quality (in the eyes of users based on our teacher assessment network); duration/average length of time to complete.
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 content providers get about usage of their content?
A: Depending on their engagement with GGfL, content providers will be provided with reports on relative usage of their content on a quarterly basis with their royalty reports. 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: 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: 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 University Press in consultation with 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: What kind of content are you looking for?
A: All content is welcome provided it is educationally appropriate, discrete, is tagged (to some degree), and meets a minimum quality standard as set by Cambridge University Press in consultation with its partners. Content may be in the form of compound objects such as interactive learning objects (IMS Content Packages) or as discrete resources such as images, video files, audio files, animations or documents.
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 monthly. As of 31 December 2009, over 40 discrete organizations had agreed to participate in Global Grid for Learning representing over 2,000 sources and over 1.1 million resources.
Q: Will you supply the details of customers?
A: Details for customers of Discrete Collections will be supplied.
Q: What digital file formats are supported?
A: Our preferred digital file formats are currently:
FILE TYPE |
FORMAT |
DELIVERY |
Image |
Png, jpeg, gif |
Download |
Video |
mpeg, mp4 |
Online or Download |
Audio |
Mp3 |
Online or Download |
Shockwave Flash |
Swf |
Download |
Learning objects |
SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, IMS CP |
Online or Download |
Download |
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. While GGfL has a number of toolsets and support services to help content providers with metatagging, content providers will need to complete a minimum recommended metadata profile for each learning resource submitted for use within GGfL. The minimum metadata required is:
- Publisher ID
- Asset Filename
- Title
- Keywords
- Description
- Core Age Range
- Learning Resource Type (Usage)
- Source Content Provider
- Language
- Cost
The recommended metadata also includes the following:
- Other Age Range(s)
- Core Audience
- Other Audience(s)
- Subjects
- Asset Type
- Asset Format
- Rights Type
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: How do I deliver the content to you?
A: Assets can be delivered to us via FTP, external hard disk drive and OAI-PMH.
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 specific fees for making content available through the GGfL Library. Non-recurring engineering fees may apply for specific customization of Discrete Collections.
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 Discrete 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.