CASTEP

Guidance for obtaining a CASTEP license

Please read this information carefully. It is important that the guidance is followed correctly to ensure that the University complies with the license terms for CASTEP.

Note for authorised signatories

CASTEP is licensed on a per-research group basis. CASTEP/STFC will not license the software on a University, Faculty, or Department-wide basis. This means you may receive multiple requests for signatures for CASTEP licenses.

Introduction

CASTEP is free for academic/non-commercial usage.

This document provides guidance on how to obtain a license.

The University strongly advises that the software be used only on the UoM compute platforms (e.g. CSF).

In order for your users to access CASTEP on the compute platforms you/your research group must have a license and supply a copy of that license to the Research Platforms and Infrastructure Team (RPI Team), as per the instructions below.

Please note there will be no access to the source code on the compute platforms we are only permitted to grant access to compiled binaries.

This document outlines the process you as a PI/Supervisor must follow to enable access to CASTEP for your users on the compute platforms.

You will be responsible for ensuring that your users comply with the license you obtain, regardless of where they use CASTEP.

Obtaining a License

Licenses can be requested by completing the form here: https://licences.stfc.ac.uk/product/castep

Please note that:

• When filling in the licensee information you must state the Licensee is "The University of Manchester" But you must also include some details about the Research Group or PI/Supervisor for whose users the license is intended. For example,
  The University of Manchester (Basket Welding Research Group, Joe Smith)
  Or
  The University of Manchester (Joe Smiths Research Group)
• You must have a UoM authorised signatory sign your license, for example this may be your Head of Department. You, not the RPI Team or FSE Technical Services, are responsible for finding out who is authorised to sign and obtaining the signature.
• We recommend that you provide a link to this page to your authorised signatory.
• CASTEP/STFC will not enable the issuing of a license to cover a whole department or all users of the compute platforms. If your authorised signatory questions that they have already authorised a license please advise them that licenses are issued only on a per research group basis.
• The definition of a research group is open to interpretation. For the purposes of the compute platforms Research IT are defining this as a group of people associated with a PI/Supervisor.
• That PI/Supervisor may be a part of a CSF contributing group that contains many PIs/Contributors, but the contributing group is not classed a research group for the purposes of CASTEP licensing.
• Once a license is in place you need to send documentary evidence of the license to the RPI Team via https://ri.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/hpc-help before you can use CASTEP on the CSF. The RPI Team will keep a copy of your license in their records and use it to then enable access for users.
• Your license cannot be used to enable access for any other PI/Supervisor's users, they must obtain their own license.

Important licensing points

Important licensing points for you and your authorised signatory to be aware of:

• You are responsible for ensuring that if an IGGR is needed for the data you are processing with the software you have that in place before you obtain the license. (https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/igo/records-information-management/the-igrr/)
• The software may only be used for non-commercial purposes. This includes teaching and research work/study.
• The license is for 4 years. Clause 14 is a right for the Licensor to terminate for material breach of the license. This clause is not mutual, there is no right or option anywhere in the license for The University of Manchester to terminate the license.
• Clause 2 and 3 and schedule A concern modification of the software.
• You will not have access to the source code on the compute platforms. If CASTEP issue you with the source code as part of obtaining the license you are responsible for that source code and any usage made of it by any of your users.
• The University advises against installation on any pc/laptop/system and recommends you use it only via the centrally installed versions on the UoM compute platforms
• The University advises against any modifications and you should consult the University for advice including on Intellectual Property before considering doing anything covered by these parts of the license.
• Clause 5 prohibits the use of the software for the benefit of commercial/industrial partners. This includes commercial/industrially funded research, or where a commercial/industrial partner might have an interest in the outcome.
• Clause 8. You must cite your use of the software.
• Clause 13 is a liability limitation clause. The cap on the Licensor’s liability is £1000. You should be comfortable that this is acceptable with regards to the use to which you will be putting the software.

The above does not replace the requirement for you to read the license and consider whether you need to do any further due diligence regarding its terms. If you have any concerns you should seek appropriate legal advice from The University.