{"id":142,"date":"2020-03-17T22:19:59","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T21:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forskningsdata.dk\/fairytale\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2020-03-18T07:35:47","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T06:35:47","slug":"metadata-are-released-with-a-clear-and-accessible-data-usage-license","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forskningsdata.dk\/fairytale\/reusable\/metadata-are-released-with-a-clear-and-accessible-data-usage-license\/","title":{"rendered":"Reusable: (Meta)data are released with a clear and accessible data usage license"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The data chests brought back by the elves came in all different sizes, shapes and packaging. Some were even locked in chains with a padlock. Luckily, the elves were able to buy a key for them. Others were nicely wrapped with curled ribbons and small tags, saying things like \u2018For you to keep\u2019, and even marked with small drawings to help the elves where they could not read the local tongue. One elf named Ruby came back with a trembling data chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with this one?\u201d Ruby asked the wizard. \u201cIt is wrapped like the others, but there is no tag on it. Have I done something wrong?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u201cOh, let me see\u201d, said the wizard. \u201cIt looks exactly like what we need, but we have to throw it in the moat. We do not know if it is bewitched. And we can\u2019t use it without knowing whether we are allowed to use it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u201cWhat!\u201d exclaimed Ruby in disbelief. \u201cCan\u2019t you do something? If this is what we need, why can\u2019t we keep it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u201cI know, I know\u201d, said the wizard. \u201cAlthough it looks like a gift, we can\u2019t keep it, because it doesn\u2019t carry the gift tag. But this is not your fault Ruby\u201d, the wizard said padding Ruby on the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Licensing data and metadata is an important aspect of the FAIR principles; both if you retain some or all rights, or if you set your data free as completely open data. In a FAIR context, a license is a standardised machine-readable statement that tells the end user exactly how he or she can use the data, and under which conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can apply many different licenses to data. One of the most common is the Creative Commons license suite, where you explicitly state how and if you are to be cited when your data are reused, along with possible re-sharing options of derived works etc. Typically, you choose a license when depositing data in a repository. You do not have to apply the same license to all your data, and stating full copyright is a license in itself. The worst thing you can do is not to apply any license at all. Because then your data is most likely protected by copyright as default, even though the data are publicly accessible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you use other people\u2019s data, you should always identify the conditions of how and when you can use the data. This may affect the way you can work with their data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n