eLEGAL


	An increasingly popular method for providing online services is the use of an Application Service Provider (ASP). These ASPs set up and manage services on behalf of clients, providing facilities and functionality for other project participants.
	Example = web based project collaboration system, providing central communications and data exchange, document management, etc.
	The eLEGAL study concluded that these arrangements should also be governed by contracts, both between the ASP and the client, and between the ASP and the other parties on the project.
	These contracts need to cover issues such as:
	*Service Level Agreements*: Availability of services, security, backup of data, access privileges for different users, etc.
	*Licencing Agreements*: The ASP must be contracted to provide the services. The User must obtain a licence for using the software and services.
	*Intellectual Property Rights*: Protection of the data stored on a project server - both from improper use by other project participants and from any risk from the ASP itself.
	The contracts within the project and with the ASPs should generally promote the use of electronic communications technologies for project data exchange and sharing.