Page History

Can we request changes to the ECMWF Standard Licence Agreement? 

No, it's not possible to make changes to the ECMWF Standard Licence Agreement.

This agreement is co-written and approved by representatives from ECMWF and its Member and Co-operating States. Finally, ECMWF's highest governing body, the Council, approves the licence for implementation. 

ECMWF is required by its governing bodies and internal regulations to release ECMWF data under specific ECMWF terms and conditions, including the Licence Agreement for the Supply of ECMWF Products in question.  Please note that the contents of this Licence Agreement have been approved by the ECMWF Council.

ECMWF's consistent approach has always been to use the Council-approved Licence Agreement as the sole agreement governing our relationship with licensees. The Licence Agreement comprehensively covers all essential aspects of the contractual relationship regarding the use of ECMWF data and contains critically important provisions regarding ECMWF's specific status as an intergovernmental organisation, along with the associated privileges and immunities as outlined in the ECMWF Convention and its Protocol. 

In light of the above and to

ensure a level playing field, none of the principles or terms can be changed, and all users are expected to sign this agreement.

Who can supply, sell or license ECMWF data?

For real-time products that are not governed by an open licence (see this page for details: https://www.ecmwf.int/en/forecasts/datasets/open-data), only ECMWF and its Member and Co-operating States can license real-time products. 

Licensed users may not broker, redistribute, sell or otherwise provide ECMWF real-time products that are not part of an open catalogue. 

Tax, withholding tax and VAT

All ECMWF's fees and charges are exclusive of and net of any Taxes which may be levied in respect of this Licence, the Data, its use or otherwise. The Licensee is liable for all Taxes and shall pay ECMWF's fees and charges in full without any deduction or set-off. However, if the Licensee is compelled by local law to make any deduction for Taxes, it will pay to ECMWF such additional amounts as are necessary to ensure receipt by ECMWF of the full amount of the fees and charges stated herein which ECMWF would have received but for such deduction

ECMWF is an international organisation established by Convention with a Protocol on Privileges and Immunities and as such is not required to be registered for VAT purposes. ECMWF does not have a VAT No. so VAT will not be applied to its invoices. 

Legal requirements

The ECMWF Standard Licence Agreement is a contract between ourselves and the entity that is permitted to use our products under these conditions. When signing up to receive products, please ensure that all information is as accurate as possible, including the legal entity name, the address and ensure that you have clarified internally who will be paying for the access. 

ECMWF cannot make changes to invoices once they have been raised, so it is vital that the correct entity is listed on the contract and invoice.