CrossRef, a cross-publisher linking network with over 1,600 participating publishers, has announced that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft Corp. who will become the first official CrossRef WebServices Search Partner. CrossRef will provide Microsoft with a bulk feed of metadata from participating CrossRef member publishers.

CrossRef WebServices offers a tool for authorized search partners to collect metadata on a cross-publisher basis to streamline web crawling. The program also provides standard terms and conditions for search engines using the cross-publisher metadata available through CrossRef. Just as the core CrossRef linking service removes the need for bilateral linking agreements among publishers, the Search Partner Program allows for bilateral agreements covering use of metadata between publishers and search providers. Participation in CrossRef WebServices is optional for CrossRef member-publishers.

(www.crossref.org; www.microsoft.com)