Copyright
This module will help you with the Data collection-creation and Data post project sections of your data management plan. Data management planning templates are available for download here or directly from our library data management page here.
Watch the video here
- Section 1: Overview
- Section 2: Copyright ownership
- Section 3: Copyright requirements when publishing data
- Section 4: Using existing data
- Section 5: Help and support
- Section 6: Frequently asked questions
This page has been adapted from the Griffith University’s Copyright research data pages.
Overview
- HDRs normally own © in their research data
- Griffith owns © in scholarly works created by staff
- Co-creators - joint © ownership
- Funding agreements can determine © ownership
- Datasets may contain individual items (eg images, videos, interviews) whose © belongs to others.
- Data can be licensed or assigned
Copyright ownership
Higher degree by Research (HDR) candidates own the copyright in the datasets they create (except when copyright is transferred to the University or another body by agreement). Griffith University owns the copyright in datasets staff create and permits their publication. Where two or more researchers significantly contribute to a dataset when working on a project, there is joint copyright ownership. Often researchers will sign an agreement assigning the copyright in the data to the project at the beginning.
Griffith University’s Intellectual Property policy framework
Copyright requirements when publishing data
Publishing your dataset
When publishing your dataset, it’s best to attach a licence to let others know how they can use it. A good principle is to use the least restrictive licence that is applicable to your data so it is published as openly as possible.
If you want your data to be used as widely as possible, attach the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 International licence. This permits others to use your data for whatever purpose (including mixing it with other data and republishing) as long as they reference your data, link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. Funding agreements often recommend this licence. Alternatively the CC BY NC 4.0 International licence is identical, except it does not permit commercial use.
Publishing sofware with your dataset
You may wish to publish software with your dataset to help others use and manipulate your data. The BSD 3-Clause license is the software equivalent of a CC BY licence, permitting others to use your software as widely as possible. However before publishing your software or attaching this licence, make sure any underlying open or proprietary software you may have included within your software permits publication and is compatible with this licence.
Publishing and sharing sensitive data
Sensitive data can often be deidentified and then published with a Creative Commons licence. Where the data may not be deidentified, often an abstract describing the data can be published, and sometimes on request the data may be shared with other projects after Ethics approval.
Using existing data
Prior to reusing a data set look over the following checklist;
- Does the dataset have a licence?
- Find the publishers “Terms and Conditions” or policies?
- What are you using the data for?
- look for permissions or licences required?
- Are you text or data mining?
- Are you Mixing datasets with different licences?
Reusing datasets
Being able to reuse datasets created by others will depend whether the licence on the dataset matches your intended use. For example, you may be permitted to use a dataset for your private individual research, but not permitted to mix this dataset with another dataset for publication purposes (without written permission from the copyright owner).
Social media data
Social Media datasets generally contain copyright material (such as, comments, images, videos) whose copyright belongs to individuals and not to the Social Media platform (although tweets are generally not considered long enough to attract copyright protection). Before using such data for your research you should check the site’s Terms and Conditions and policies. Contact the Information Policy Officer for assistance.
Help and support
copyright advice
The Information Policy Officer provides copyright advice and training across Griffith University for staff and students. Contact the Information Policy Officer by emailing copyright@griffith.edu.au or phoning (0)7 3735 5695.
- Reading List Service digitises and makes readings available online for students through Learning@Griffith in a copyright compliant way.
- The Library assists with supplying movies and TV material for teaching in a copyright compliant way.
- Griffith Enterprise advises on ownership and development of potentially commercial copyright, inventions and other IP created by staff and students.
Frequently asked questions
- What can I do if my thesis includes small excerpts from scores but I cannot find the copyright owner
- How can I find copyright free images?
- Where can I find out about copyright?
- How do I publish and share research outputs while retaining copyright?
- Where can I find images to use in my assignment?
- Why are full text files not always available in Griffith Research Online?
More answers at Griffiths Ask us!