My last discussion with them was years ago and I had some contacts in-between about OpenSmiles, but no eMolecules-related discussions recently.

The only expectation of data depositors depositing into ChemSpider, eMolecules or PubChem is to deposit their structures and “database IDs”, with these preferably linking back to the URL for further review. So, when the structures are deposited at PubChem for example users can find a compound of interest and then navigate back to the original data source. This works for ChemSpider and I have about 10 requests per week at present for people sourcing compounds. I point people to the data sources of chemical vendors and suggest they contact the vendor directly. ChemSpider doesn’t make money from this and, I hope, doesn’t have to look at this way to provide income to support ChemSpider. However, I believe that eMolecules has a focus on helping users to buy compounds from vendors and have special agreements in place hosting websites for vendors (for example: http://lifechemicals.emolecules.com/) . This is ALL supposition by the way.

My belief is that if eMolecules deposit their structure collection with eMolecules IDs to ChemSpider, and give us the URL structure to direct people to their site then eMolecules will direct users to purchase chemicals and, I think, will derive direct revenue from that. For ChemSpider we’re simply building community and reducing the work to help people source chemicals. For eMolecules we help direct traffic to their site to help fulfil their role of sourcing chemicals for the community.

Regarding compiling the vendor data it should be a simple export from the DB and burning to DVD.

Assuming that recognition would not be sufficient here, what else could be an attractive option for them?

In other words, as simple minded user I am pro for sharing, but I would guess that they are working on their business model, are’nt they? And I would like to know what they would need in exchange for making it attractive for them? As said before, is there a kind of token system, or recognition system for users, vendors providing data? E.g. something like curator of the month, or data provider of the year? What could be potential mechanisms for paying back efforts from users? Might e.g. some sponsors be willingly providing some gifts, tools, or whatever? … of course all those things would require some technical solutions first.

Chris

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