Licensing ancient human DNA data

Take control of your data assets: a practical introduction to licensing data for research

University of Adelaide 2

Major Open Data Collections Project

An ANDS funded project with the University’s of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) to make available an internationally significant research data collection.

University of Adelaide 3

Online Ancient Genome Repository (OAGR)

A world-first, open access database for ancient human DNA, integrating all layers of available genomic and microbiome data and associated metadata in a searchable format.

University of Adelaide 4

Applying a license is part of ‘Open’1. Freely available to download in a

reusable form2. Licensed with minimal restrictions to

reuse3. Well described with provenance and

reuse information provided, i.e., metadata

4. Available in convenient, modifiable and open formats

5. Managed by the provider on an ongoing basis

http://www.ands.org.au/discovery/opendata.html

University of Adelaide 5

The pipelineSource and

sample

Sequencing preparation steps

Raw data

Processed data

Analysed data

University of Adelaide 6

Does Copyright subsist in the data?Recent developments in Australia have led to the situation where it is unclear which data is subject to copyright.  In this situation, Australian researchers have to take a pragmatic approach and it would seem desirable to assume copyright as subsisting in all data created in the course of research, and ensure that it is licensed accordingly. No harm can come from this approach.http://www.ausgoal.gov.au/research-data-faqs#Q2

University of Adelaide 7

University’s Intellectual Property PolicyThe University recognises that there are many ways to engage with the community in the exploitation of IP, depending on the nature of the IP and its potential application. In some cases this may be by means of providing open access to the work, which is a key feature of teaching, research and publications.

The University is entitled to, and asserts ownership of, all IP created by staff members in the course of their employment with the University, unless there is a specific written agreement or exception to the contrary.

University of Adelaide 8

Current approach

Repository License

Direct from collaborator ?

Sequence Read Archive -National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

?

Dryadhttp://datadryad.org/

Creative Commons Zero (CC0)

Figsharehttp://figshare.com/

All figures, media, poster, papers and multiple file uploads (filesets) are published under a CC-BY license.All datasets are published under CC0.

University of Adelaide 9

OAGR Recommendation

• Evaluation by Project Officer with reference to external parties including ANDS and AusGoal.

• Discussion paper and recommendation provided to research group.

It is recommended that data and accompanying metadata made publicly

available via OAGR is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

University of Adelaide 10

Reasons for choosing CC-BY

• The most accommodating of the Creative Commons licences = Maximum distribution and reuse of the licensed material.

• CC0: Uncertainty as to whether creators can under Australian law voluntarily waive their copyright.

• Non-exclusive and do not prevent owners of data licensed under a CC licence also releasing it separately under a different licensing or sharing/reuse arrangement (e.g. Sequence Read Archive).

• http://www.ausgoal.gov.au/research-data-faqs

University of Adelaide 11

CC-BY 4.0Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence

• Allows reuse

• Requires attribution

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This project is supported by the Australian National Data Service (ANDS)

 

ANDS is supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy Program and the Education Investment Fund (EIF) Super

Science Initiative