[okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data

[Bob Chen]

Yes, the principle of open data for data derived from publicly funded 
research is fairly widely accepted at least in developed countries. It 
is embodied, for example, in the OECD Principles and Guidelines for 
Access to Research Data from Public Funding, which has been accepted 
by the science and technology ministers/agencies of the OECD 
countries. However, not all countries accept this. Moreover, not all 
government data are research data, and some agencies that hold and 
release administrative data--that may be useful for research--still 
place restrictions or charges on these data to fund their own 
operations. Note that the U.S. government is one of the only 
governments to declare government produced data to be entirely in the 
public domain. Most other governments claim copyright, and then use 
their power as copyright owners to give out usage and dissemination 
rights with varying degrees of openness.

Although I agree in general that publicly funded researchers should 
share their data, note that some researchers still may invest alot 
into their data. For example, critical research in the Antarctic could 
never have been undertaken without both public funding and scientists 
willing to go spend six months in cold and isolation. Those scientists 
might not even be willing to go if they lose the ability to publish 
based on the data they obtained. NSF's announcement today that it is 
suspending this summer's field season due to the US government 
shutdown illustrates the varied risks of this kind of science.

I think one challenge of open data from the viewpoint of an archives 
manager is that the long-term responsibility for stewardship of the 
data may be too diffuse or hard to justify. If people believe that 
there are plenty of copies of the open data around, actual 
preservation efforts (e.g., determining which copies are original or 
authentic, documenting data before the original producers disappear or 
forget, amd ensuring backups with high integrity) may be hard to 
justify. The risk is that some open data could end up being more 
ephemeral than data with clear ownership and responsibility in the 
long run. I'm not sure that anyone has a handle on how significant a 
risk this is...

Cheers, Bob

*****
Dr. Robert S. Chen
Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network
  (CIESIN), The Earth Institute, Columbia University
Manager, NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
P.O. Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA
tel. +1 845-365-8952; fax +1 845-365-8922
e-mail: bchen at ciesin.columbia.edu
CIESIN web site: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu
SEDAC web site: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu


On Tue, 8 Oct 2013, Gene Shackman wrote:

> Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 15:40:03 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Gene Shackman <eval_gene at yahoo.com>
> To: Open Knowledge Foundation discussion list <okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org>
> Subject: Re: [okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data
> 
> This is good. Someone may spend a lot of time developing data, so they should be able to get credit, be in control, get the benefits from the data. I can relate to that.

Govt data is a somewhat different case, in that govt data *should* be open (except for national security or privacy). Even people who use govt grants to create data should go in with the expectation that their data must be open. If the people fund it, the people should have it.

I'd like to hear a little more about challenges to funding if the data are open, though.

But otherwise, it seems difficult to expect people who privately develop data to just open it up to anyone without some compensation, or recognition, or control. That's where we need some kind of business model.


So, are there private business people on this list?

 
Gene


________________________________
  From: Bob Chen <bchen at ciesin.columbia.edu>
To: Open Knowledge Foundation discussion list <okfn-discuss at lists.okfn.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2013 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [okfn-discuss] what are the arguments against open data


(snipped a lot)

1) Scientists and others invest alot of time in creating data and do 
not wish to lose control or lose credit for this investment. Many 
scientists believe that open data allows others to come in and reap 
the benefits (in terms of publications etc.) of their investment in 
the data unfairly.

2) Those who "own" data are more willing to invest in expanding and 
improving the data.

3) Even public agencies that generate and distribute data want some 
control over their data.

4) Open data may also undercut other business models that have been 
developed over time to support the necessary investment and 
institutional commitment in data.

develop and demonstrate strong and sustainable alternative business 
models for supporting the full life cycle of open data.

Cheers, Bob

*****
Dr. Robert S. Chen
Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network
  (CIESIN), The Earth Institute, Columbia University
Manager, NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
P.O. Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 USA
tel. +1 845-365-8952; fax +1 845-365-8922
e-mail: bchen at ciesin.columbia.edu
CIESIN web site: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu
SEDAC web site: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu