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CHEMKIN FAQs
These questions and answers are intended to clarify the intellectual
property position of Sandia and Reaction Design, and to provide
guidance on the use and distribution of CHEMKIN™.
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Q.
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How can I acquire CHEMKIN software?
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A.
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CHEMKIN is available through a San Diego company called Reaction
Design, Inc. In February 1997, Sandia contracted with Reaction
Design to become the exclusive worldwide CHEMKIN distributor.
Under this license agreement, Sandia and Reaction Design cooperate
on the continuing development of the CHEMKIN software.
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Q.
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In the past, wasn't CHEMKIN available for free?
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A.
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Beginning in the late 1970s, Sandia National Laboratories
developed CHEMKIN and later CHEMKIN II. Sandia distributed
the code widely to collaborators around the world. Sandia
has always maintained copyright and ownership of the CHEMKIN
programs and the CHEMKIN name. Sandia never placed CHEMKIN
in the public domain and has never authorized recipients to
re-distribute CHEMKIN either as a software product or as modified
and incorporated into subsequently developed software. Until
1997, the only organizations authorized to distribute versions
of CHEMKIN were Sandia and Department of Energy Office of
Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI).
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Q.
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My organization received a free version of CHEMKIN in the
1980s from Sandia. Can we continue to use it?
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A.
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Parties who received versions of CHEMKIN directly from Sandia
in the 1980s and early 1990s or purchased it from the Department
of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)
have a right to continue to use and modify that software,
and to publish the results. However, Sandia and OSTI did not
grant permission to distribute these early versions of CHEMKIN
either in part or in its entirety, or as modified or embedded
in third-party software.
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Q.
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What if I have an unauthorized copy of CHEMKIN?
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A.
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For parties who may have received CHEMKIN through unauthorized
distribution and are currently using CHEMKIN, we request you
contact Reaction Design at chemkin@reactiondesign.com
to obtain the latest information about current CHEMKIN products
and extensive CHEMKIN support services.
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Q.
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In view of the change in how CHEMKIN is distributed, and
the initiation of a fee-based license program, how are Sandia
and Reaction Design addressing the needs of the scientific
community?
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A.
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Sandia and Reaction Design acknowledge that there has been
some confusion over the intellectual property status of CHEMKIN
with regard to early versions that Sandia National Laboratories
delivered to collaborators in the 1980s and early 1990s. Sandia
and Reaction Design encourage and support the widespread use
of CHEMKIN in the scientific community. Included in the license
agreement with Reaction Design are measures to support this
research community, including:
- The right for Sandia to designate active collaborators
who are eligible to receive current CHEMKIN versions at
no charge
- Substantially discounted license fees from commercial
rates for academic users
- Establishing a CHEMKIN users' public Web site to facilitate
the free exchange of information and problem solving experience
among users
- Providing access for researchers
who wish to modify the current commercial code and are
willing to have their improvements incorporated into future
CHEMKIN
releases
- Holding biennial workshops to encourage feedback from
users on the future direction of CHEMKIN in conjunction
with International Combustion Institute meetings
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Q.
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I have CHEMKIN II as a result of a collaboration with Sandia.
Should I upgrade to the latest version of CHEMKIN?
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A.
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There has been no further development of CHEMKIN II since
1995. Since that date there has been substantial modification
and enhancement.
Parties still using CHEMKIN II will discover considerable
benefit by upgrading to this more advanced version. Those
whose special applications require capabilities not yet incorporated
in the current version are encouraged to request source code
directly from Reaction Design to facilitate such modification
under the Reaction Design Collaborative Development agreement.
For more information on the latest version of CHEMKIN visit http://www.reactiondesign.com
or email Reaction Design at chemkin@reactiondesign.com.
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Q.
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What is the proper use of the CHEMKIN name?
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A.
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The CHEMKIN name is a trademark owned by Sandia National
Laboratories and needs to be expressed as CHEMKIN™. The
trademark name may be used in scientific papers or as a literature
citation. All other use of the trademark name "CHEMKIN"
requires permission from either Sandia or its exclusive CHEMKIN
licensee, Reaction Design.
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