[Biopython] Fwd: [Utilities-announce] NCBI E-Utility Policy Change

[Chris Fields]

I'll be following the same (exclusion of the email a warning in next bioperl release in Jan, and an error for the spring release).

chris

On Dec 1, 2009, at 1:34 PM, Peter wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> Attention NCBI Entrez users - the NCBI really do want you to include
> your email address, and it will be mandatory in future! See below...
> 
> If using Bio.Entrez, the tool parameter will by default be set to
> Biopython, but the email is omitted. We already encourage the email
> to be included in our documentation but given the new NCBI guidance
> I'd suggest we make omitting the email issue a warning in the next
> release (and an error in the subsequent release of Biopython?).
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From:  <utilities-announce at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
> Date: Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 6:59 PM
> Subject: [Utilities-announce] NCBI E-Utility Policy Change
> To: utilities-announce at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
> 
> 
> As part of an ongoing effort to ensure efficient access to the Entrez
> Utilities (E-utilities) by all users, NCBI has decided to change the
> usage policy for the E-utilities effective June 1, 2010. Effective on
> June 1, 2010, all E-utility requests, either using standard URLs or
> SOAP, must contain non-null values for both the &tool and &email
> parameters. Any E-utility request made after June 1, 2010 that does
> not contain values for both parameters will return an error explaining
> that these parameters must be included in E-utility requests.
> 
> 
> 
> The value of the &tool parameter should be a URI-safe string that is
> the name of the software package, script or web page producing the
> E-utility request.
> 
> 
> 
> The value of the &email parameter should be a valid e-mail address for
> the appropriate contact person or group responsible for maintaining
> the tool producing the E-utility request.
> 
> 
> 
> NCBI uses these parameters to contact users whose use of the
> E-utilities violates the standard usage policies described at
> http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/static/eutils_help.html#UserSystemRequirements.
> These usage policies are designed to prevent excessive requests from a
> small group of users from reducing or eliminating the wider
> community's access to the E-utilities. NCBI will attempt to contact a
> user at the e-mail address provided in the &email parameter prior to
> blocking access to the E-utilities.
> 
> 
> 
> NCBI realizes that this policy change will require many of our users
> to change their code. Based on past experience, we anticipate that
> most of our users should be able to make the necessary changes before
> the June 1, 2010 deadline. If you have any concerns about making these
> changes by that date, or if you have any questions about these
> policies, please contact eutilities at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us
> continue to deliver a reliable and efficient web service.
> 
> 
> 
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