SPECTRUM Partners Scheme - FAQs
What is the SPECTRUM Partners Scheme?
The Partners Scheme is an initiative aimed at organisations who produce commercial products which are based on the SPECTRUM standard.
Under the Scheme, Partners can apply to have their software validated for compliance with SPECTRUM. Upon meeting these compliance requirements, they are eligible to brand their products as 'SPECTRUM Compliant'. Organisations who are not members of the Partners scheme are not eligible to brand or market their products in this way.
In addition, the Collections Trust maintains a directory of SPECTRUM Compliant products, providing a vital reference tool for organisations when procuring new software and systems.
Why is SPECTRUM Compliance important?
The Primary Procedures from SPECTRUM are embedded into the Museum Accreditation Scheme as the minimum standard for UK museums. Meeting this requirement means that museums must use systems which support the SPECTRUM standard.
At the same time, software suppliers need a clear definition of what SPECTRUM Compliance means. By creating the SPECTRUM Partners Scheme, we are providing an easy way to do this.
How much does membership of the Scheme cost?
The annual fee for membership is £2,500.
What does a Partner receive?
In return for the annual subscription, SPECTRUM Partners receive a range of benefits and services. These include:
- A license to use SPECTRUM on a commercial basis
- Validation of their products for compliance with SPECTRUM
- Access to the 'SPECTRUM Compliant' and 'SPECTRUM Partner' logos for their products and marketing
- Branding and promotion through the Collections Trust website and marketing materials
- Inclusion, prominently, in the Collections Trust Software Survey
- Regular updates to SPECTRUM in digital format
- Collections Trust staff will attend, subject to expenses and availability, one Partner's event per year
- An article relating to their membership in a forthcoming edition of SPECTRUM Partners News
- Ability to participate in the network responsible for future development
- Opportunity to work with the Collections Trust and other Partners on relevant projects (e.g. on streamlining procurement)
- First refusal on sponsorship opportunities
- Discounts on attendance at Collections Trust events and first refusal on trade fairs
- Special offers on Collections Trust publications
If SPECTRUM is an open standard, why are you charging for it?
SPECTRUM has been developed in partnership with the museum community since 1994. The Collections Trust holds it in trust on behalf of the sector as an open standard, which is free to all museums and individuals for non-commercial use.
Part of the Collections Trust's role is to ensure that the development of SPECTRUM is sustainable in the long-term. This means ensuring that some of the commercial value of the standard as a piece of Intellectual Property is driven back into its development. By establishing a license governing the commercial re-use of the standard, we can ensure that this happens.
What if my product is already based on SPECTRUM?
It is likely that existing systems will be based on the 2nd edition of SPECTRUM. A revised edition wsa published in April 2005, which features a number of new procedures, definitions etc.
From April 2005, you are no longer be able to market your product as 'SPECTRUM Compliant' unless it has been validated against the revised standard. There is an obvious commercial advantage in being able to include the 'SPECTRUM Compliant' kitemark as part of your marketing material.
Also, SPECTRUM will continue to be developed on an ongoing basis (rather than aggregating updates into a single future edition). To access these updates and a license to include them in your software, you will need to be part of the SPECTRUM Partners Scheme.
What if I am developing a system in-house for my museum?
If the system is solely intended for the use of your museum, then this would be classified as non-commercial use, and would be subject to a free non-commercial license. If you then want to turn the system into a product to sell on to others, you would need to contact us to arrange a commercial license.
The Collections Trust offers a one-off compliance check for in-house or museum-developed systems. This compliance check validates the system against SPECTRUM and provides a detailed report for the museum. Museums with in-house systems that have not been checked for compliance cannot be called 'SPECTRUM Compliant'.
The fee for the one-off compliance check depends on the amount of work involved and the scale of the system.
What if my product is sold in several countries/languages?
The Collections Trust is currently addressing the issue of translation and localisation of the SPECTRUM standard. In order to maintain the integrity of the standard, it is important to understand that SPECTRUM cannot simply be translated into other languages. There are extensive sections relating to legislation that are specific to the UK, which would need to be localised for other regions.
It is likely that the Collections Trust will license the translation and localisation rights to partner organisations in a number of different countries.
How does an organisation become an SPECTRUM Partner?
For an informal conversation about SPECTRUM Partner membership, contact Gordon McKenna on 01223 316 028 or e-mail at gordon@collectionstrust.org.uk.
