Model License Agreement

The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) offers its model license agreement as a template for the community, libraries and publishers alike, to support our shared goals and interests and to reach common ground in licensing scholarly resources. 

The Model License is a living document, continually evolving to address emerging challenges and the changing landscape of scholarly communication. It builds upon the foundational work of the many organizations and individuals who developed the original LIBLICENSE Model License Agreement in the late 1990s. Full updates to the CRL Model License were completed in 2014 and again in 2024. This latest version is the result of invaluable contributions and suggestions from the consortial members of CRL and NERL. Their expertise, insights, and collaboration were instrumental in shaping this document to reflect the evolving landscape of research and scholarly communication. 

In the updated agreement, CRL addresses emerging challenges while upholding the principles of Transparency, Sustainability, Equity and Fair Use.  

The CRL Model License is intended to be a flexible guide that should be amended and adapted to meet local needs and situations. Recognizing that future licensing changes are inevitable, suggested adjustments, additions, and comments can be sent to nerl@crl.edu