Unauthorized Use of the JSTOR Archive

In entering into agreements with libraries for access to the JSTOR archive, we realize that there is a limit to the ability of libraries to monitor and police the activities of individual users. We ask only that libraries use reasonable efforts to protect the archive from unauthorized use. JSTOR has an obligation to do what we can to protect the journal content of the archive, which is owned by our participating publishers. Consequently we require individuals to agree to the JSTOR Terms and Conditions of Use.

These terms and conditions serve to protect not only the interests of publishers (e.g. users are permitted to download or print one copy of any article for their personal use; users are expressly prohibited from downloading or printing entire issues of any journal), but are also intended to protect the interests of other users. Certain user actions, such as the employment of computer programs that automatically download content (i.e. web robots, spiders, crawlers, wanderers and accelerators) unduly burden JSTOR's servers and are not permitted. The use of these programs limits access to the archive by other researchers and students.

Because of their impact on server loads, when we become aware of instances of systematic downloading, we must take immediate action to stop them. While we will attempt to notify our library contacts in advance, we may not be able to wait for a reply before denying access to the workstation(s) from which the unauthorized activity is originating.

In cases of inappropriate use of the JSTOR archive, we expect libraries to cooperate with us to inform responsible parties that these actions are prohibited.

Last updated on September 8, 2006