Open data facilitates the visibility and re-use of research data without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control.
According to the Open Data Handbook, open data has the following characteristics:
- Availability and Access: the data must be available as a whole and at no more than a reasonable reproduction cost, preferably by downloading over the internet. The data must also be available in a convenient and modifiable form.
- Reuse and Redistribution: the data must be provided under terms that permit reuse and redistribution including the intermixing with other datasets.
- Universal Participation: everyone must be able to use, reuse and redistribute - there should be no discrimination against fields of endeavour or against persons or groups. For example, ‘non-commercial’ restrictions that would prevent ‘commercial’ use, or restrictions of use for certain purposes (e.g. only in education), are not allowed.
Why open data? Read this article at PLOS Biology for a compelling case to make data freely accessible.
Wondering how to open your own data? The Open Data Handbook provides this guideline.
