Software:  
Licensing UBC-GIF software, March 2009

On this page: | Introduction | Commercial licensing | Academic licensing | Support | UBC-GIF background |

Introduction

Licenses can be obtained for commercial applications, for academic research, and for education (learning about inversion). Each of these three licencing arrangements is different. Please read the relevant sections below for details.

Commercial Licensing

THE UBC-GIF DOES NOT MANAGE COMMERCIAL LICENSING DIRECTLY. Software licenses for selected UBC-GIF inversion and forward modelling codes with which to carry out contract or other commercial work can be obtained from the following third parties.

Academic Licensing

Program libraries for modelling and inversion that can be obtained for research use within an accredited academic institution include DCIP2D, DCIP3D, MAG3D, GRAV3D, EM1DFM, EM1DTM. Details about codes are given elsewhere.

The programs will be fully function only on the computer specified on the application form. In return for providing access to software, we request details about how the code was applied, and a case history if possible.

Note that "academic licenses" are not the same as "educational licenses" (see below).

Steps for acquiring an academic license

NOTE that we ask research supervisors or principle investigators to apply, even if codes are to be used by graduate students.

1. First obtain Educational versions of the program library you require. Contact UBC-GIF by email <ubcgif@eos.ubc.ca> for details.
     
2. If you have not already done so, learn about the codes: There are many tutorials & manuals on this website - see the "Software" and "Resources" menus, and practice using the codes by forward modelling and inverting the test data supplied. This helps determine if codes are suitable for your research.
     
3. Print and read the license agreement. You must agree to all terms.
     
4. Then the Principle Investigator or Research Supervisor can complete the application form (NOT a student please).
   • NOTE: you must decide which actual computer will run the codes, than find that computer's Physical Address. Instructions are on the application form. When you change computers, a new key-file can be obtained by re-applying.
   • CLICKING THE SUBMIT BUTTON ON THE APPLICATION FORM IMPLIES YOU HAVE READ, AND AGREE TO, THE COMPLETE LICENSE AGREEMENT.
   • If there are difficulties or questions or special circumstances, please contact us by email at ubcgif@eos.ubc.ca.
       
5. Upon approval, a key-file will be sent via email to the licensee designated on the license form. Follow instructions that come with that key-file. This will activate full functionality on the computer defined in your application form.
     
6. All academic licenses will be time-limited to one year. You can re-apply after that time. This ensures that everyone is using the most recent versions of codes, so you don't have worry about upgrading. Besides, most people upgrade their computers quite often, and when this is done you will have to reapply with a new physical address anyway.
     
7. Read the Important Notes that follow:

Educational versions of codes

Educational versions of DCIP2D, MAG3D and GRAV3D are freely available. These versions of the codes are fully functional except that the number of data points, and the size (number of cells) of models are both restricted. The reason for this is to allow unrestricted access to modern inversion codes for learners (students and professionals), but to prevent free access to the codes for commercial use. Education versions of all three codes are on the IAG CD-ROM. Please contact UBC-GIF for details.

Software maintenance and support policy

All UBC-GIF codes are provided on an "as-is" basis and the license does not provide explicit access to support or upgrades, except in the event of "bugs" in the software.

It is essential for users of new methodologies to learn about the fundamentals. Please use resources on this website, and aquire the IAG CD-ROM to learn about fundamentals, practicalities and challenges of geophysical inversion. See our FAQ page, and the "Resources" and "Software" menu items on this website.

UBC-GIF Background, or why our licensing policies are the way they are

The University of British Columbia Geophysical Inversion Facility (UBC-GIF) is an academic research group within the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, at UBC, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Our primary focus is research and education, and financially we are supported by industrial companies, and by NSERC through its various collaborative research and development programs.  The goals of the UBC-GIF are to:

• Carry out basic research for solving the inverse problem;
• Develop practical computing algorithms for inverting geophysical field data;
• Assist with technology transfer to academia, industry, and other communities.

We prefer to interact with industry by arranging direct funding for research consortia and for specific research projects. Research results arising from these collaborations (including software) are passed along to industrial sponsors. Algorithms, methodologies, and other innovations are published into the public domain in relevant peer reviewed scientific liturature (see our publications list).

Some UBC-GIF codes are available for commerical use via third parties. We also provide some academic licenses to recognized educational institutions. Our commercial and academic licensing policies are designed to balance the realities of academic research with the needs of the user community. Educational versions of codes are designed to allow rigorous learning about inversion using codes that are not useful for research or commercial applications. All three licensing policies are described on this page.