Open Data and Earth Observations The Case of Opening Up Access to and Use of Earth Observation Data Through the Global Earth Observation System of Systems

AuthorCatherine Doldirina
PositionDr., European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), Digital Earth and Reference Data Unit
Pages73-85
Open Data and Earth Observations
2015
73
1
Open Data and Earth Observations
The Case of Opening Up Access to and Use of Earth
Observation Data Through the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems
by Catherine Doldirina, Dr., European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and
Sustainability (IES), Digital Earth and Reference Data Unit
© 2015 Catherine Doldirina
Everybody may disseminate this ar ticle by electroni c means and make it available for downlo ad under the terms and
conditions of the Digita l Peer Publishing Licence (DPPL). A copy of the license text may be obtaine d at http://nbn-resolving.
de/urn:nbn:de:0009-dppl-v3-en8 .
Recommended citation: Cat herine Doldirina, Open Data and Earth O bservations: The Case of Opening Up Acce ss to and Use
of Earth Obser vation Data Through the Global Ear th Observation System of Systems, 6 (2 015) JIPITEC 73, para 1.
Keywords: Open Data; GEOSS; Data Sharing; Creative Commons; Open Data Commons;
of data may be imposed.The paper focuses on the
issue of the legal interoperability of data that are
shared with varying restrictions on use with the aim
to explore the options of making data interoperable.
The main question it addresses is whether the
public domain or its equivalents represent the best
mechanism to ensure legal interoperability of data.
To this end, the paper analyses legal protection
regimes and their norms applicable to EO data. Based
on the findings, it highlights the existing public law
statutory, regulatory, and policy approaches, as well
as private law instruments, such as waivers, licenses
and contracts, that may be used to place the datasets
in the public domain, or otherwise make them publicly
available for use and re-use without restrictions. It
uses GEOSS and the particular characteristics of
it as a system to identify the ways to reconcile the
vast possibilities it provides through sharing of data
from various sources and jurisdictions on the one
hand, and the restrictions on the use of the shared
resources on the other. On a more general level the
paper seeks to draw attention to the obstacles and
potential regulatory solutions for sharing factual
or research data for the purposes that go beyond
research and education.
Abstract: Earth observations (EO) represent
a growing and valuable resource for many scientific,
research and practical applications carried out
by users around the world. Access to EO data for
some applications or activities, like climate change
research or emergency response activities, becomes
indispensable for their success. However, often EO
data or products made of them are (or are claimed
to be) subject to intellectual property law protection
and are licensed under specific conditions regarding
access and use. Restrictive conditions on data use can
be prohibitive for further work with the data. Global
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is an
initiative led by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
with the aim to provide coordinated, comprehensive,
and sustained EO and information for making
informed decisions in various areas beneficial to
societies, their functioning and development. It seeks
to share data with users world-wide with the fewest
possible restrictions on their use by implementing
GEOSS Data Sharing Principles adopted by GEO. The
Principles proclaim full and open exchange of data
shared within GEOSS, while recognising relevant
international instruments and national policies and
legislation through which restrictions on the use

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