Assigning Creative Commons Licenses to Research Metadata: Issues and Cases

TL;DR

This paper explores the challenges of licensing research metadata transparently using Creative Commons licenses, highlighting issues and providing case examples to improve data discoverability and reuse.

Contribution

It analyzes the problems of metadata licensing and demonstrates how Creative Commons licenses can be applied to enhance transparency and data sharing in research infrastructures.

Findings

Lack of clear licensing hampers data discoverability

Creative Commons licenses can clarify metadata usage terms

Case examples show practical application of licensing approaches

Abstract

This paper discusses the problem of lack of clear licensing and transparency of usage terms and conditions for research metadata. Making research data connected, discoverable and reusable are the key enablers of the new data revolution in research. We discuss how the lack of transparency hinders discovery of research data and make it disconnected from the publication and other trusted research outcomes. In addition, we discuss the application of Creative Commons licenses for research metadata, and provide some examples of the applicability of this approach to internationally known data infrastructures.