6.3 Distributed Usage Logging

Distributed Usage Logging (DUL) is an initiative sponsored by Crossref (see DUL Working Group for more information) that provides a framework for publishers to capture usage of DOI-identified content items that occurs on other websites, such as aggregators, repositories, and scholarly information-sharing sites. The premise behind DUL is that publishers can register a DUL usage logging end-point with Crossref, which is then mapped to all of the publisher’s DOIs. A content site, such as a repository, can use a content item’s DOI to look up where the publisher wants a transaction to be logged, then use the standard DUL message structure to log the activity. Using DUL allows a publisher to capture a more complete picture of content usage. The following points cover how DUL may be used with COUNTER statistical reporting:

• DUL is not a replacement for log file analysis or page-tagging approaches. DUL can supplement a publisher’s normal usage logging mechanisms, but not replace them.

• DUL-captured usage MUST NOT appear on Standard Views.

• DUL-captured usage may appear on Master Reports.

• DUL-captured usage captured that appears on Master Reports MUST be reported under the platform name where the transaction occurred.

• An organization that supplies usage transactions using DUL MUST include their platform ID with each transaction, and their platform MUST be registered with COUNTER.

• Reporting usage through DUL is OPTIONAL.

• The publisher receiving transactions through DUL is responsible for performing COUNTER processing to eliminate double-clicks, eliminate robot/crawler or other rogue usage, and perform the actions to identify unique items and unique titles.

• Publishers that plan to include usage reported through DUL in their COUNTER Master Reports are responsible for ensuring that DUL-reported usage is included in the audit.