[Bioperl-l] Fwd: [Utilities-announce] NCBI Revised E-utility Usage Policy

[Chris Fields]

On Mar 24, 2010, at 9:08 AM, Peter wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> This is probably of interest to all the Bio* projects offering access
> to the NCBI
> Entrez utilities. See forwarded message below.
> 
> I *think* the new guidelines basically say that the email & tool parameters are
> optional BUT if your IP address ever gets banned for excessive use you then
> have to register an email & tool combination.
> 
> Regarding the email address, the NCBI say to use the email of the developer
> (not the end user). However, they do not distinguish between the developers
> of a library (like us), and the developers of an application or script using a
> library (who may also be the end user).
> 
> Currently we (Biopython) and I think BioPerl ask developers using our libraries
> to populate the email address themselves. I *think* this is still the
> right action.
> 
> Peter


Basically, that's the same tactic I'm going with with Bio::DB::EUtilities (and I think with the SOAP-based ones as well).  We're providing a specific set of tools for user to write up their own applications end applications.  I can try contacting them regarding this to get an official response to clarify this somewhat.

Re: the tool parameter, we currently set the tool itself to 'BioPerl' as a default, but always leave the email blank and issue a warning if it isn't set.  We could just as easily leave both blank and issue warnings for both.

chris


> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From:  <utilities-announce at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
> Date: Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 1:53 PM
> Subject: [Utilities-announce] NCBI Revised E-utility Usage Policy
> To: NLM/NCBI List utilities-announce <utilities-announce at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
> 
> 
> New E-utility documentation now on the NCBI Bookshelf
> 
> The Entrez Programming Utilities (E-Utilities) Help documentation has
> been added to the NCBI Bookshelf, and so is now fully integrated with
> the Entrez search and retrieval system as a part of the Bookshelf
> database. This help document has been divided into chapters for better
> organization and includes several new sample Perl scripts. At present
> this book covers the standard URL interface for the E-utilties;
> material about the SOAP interface will be added soon and is still
> available at the same URL:
> http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/static/eutils_help.html.
> 
> 
> 
> Revised E-utility usage policy
> 
> In December, 2009 NCBI announced a change to the usage policy for the
> E-utilities that would require all requests to contain non-null values
> for both the &email and &tool parameters. After several consultations
> with our users and developers, we have decided to revise this policy
> change, and the revised policy is described in detail at the following
> link:
> 
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=helpeutils&part=chapter2#chapter2.Usage_Guidelines_and_Requiremen
> 
> Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this
> policy change.
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> The E-Utilities Team
> 
> NIH/NLM/NCBI
> 
> eutilities at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
> 
> 
> 
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