Science Commons Data Mark

Monday, December 17, 2007

Finally, it is out. A result of a lengthy process of "listening," Science Commons is Announcing the Protocol for Implementing Open Access Data. One of the questions asked is, "So how is this different from just giving your data away"? The short answer is that it isn't. The value is in the Protocol for Implementing Open Access Data. Think of it as a mark of certain quality, or certain promises. Once you see this data mark on a dataset, you are absolutely clear of what that dataset stands for.

See [Common Use Licensing of Scientific Data] for background on the workshop that immediately preceded the development of this protocol, and also read about [Scientific Data License] to get a gentle primer on some of the terms and issues.