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 ====== Metadata Licenses at UFZ ======
+===== Background =====
+At UFZ, spatial research data are managed and published through the spatial data infrastructure **spatial.IO**
+(https://zenodo.org/records/17347355).
+Within spatial.IO, **GeoNetwork** (https://geonetwork-opensource.org/) is used as the central system for metadata cataloging and for assigning DOIs to datasets.
+As part of improving interoperability, the UFZ GeoNetwork was registered for metadata harvesting, specifically for the **Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS)**
+(https://odis.org/).
+===== The Licensing Challenge =====
+During the registration and harvesting process, it became apparent that while the **datasets themselves** were already assigned licenses for data reuse, the **metadata records** lacked an independent and clearly defined license.
+This raised an important question:
+How should UFZ metadata be licensed, both within the GeoNetwork and in a broader institutional context?
+===== Internal Consultation =====
+The issue was discussed within the UFZ Research Data Management (RDM) team. Two main options were considered:
+==== CC0 (Public Domain Dedication) ====
+  * Enables unrestricted reuse of metadata
+  * Facilitates harvesting by machines, crawlers, and aggregators
+  * Reduces legal barriers for reuse and redistribution
+==== CC-BY (Attribution Required) ====
+  * Ensures attribution to UFZ
+  * Maintains visibility and credit for the metadata creators
+===== Orientation Towards Established Infrastructures =====
+To support the decision-making process, UFZ aligned its approach with established data infrastructures, including:
+  * **PANGAEA** (https://www.pangaea.de/)
+  * **Europeana** (https://www.europeana.eu/en)
+In particular, Europeana's detailed explanation of metadata licensing was highly influential:
+https://www.europeana.eu/en/rights/usage-guidelines-for-metadata
+===== Decision and Implementation =====
+UFZ decided to apply the **CC0 license** to its metadata.
+This approach maximizes openness and technical reuse, especially for metadata harvesting and aggregation. At the same time, UFZ explicitly **requests appropriate attribution**, even though it is not legally required under CC0.
+In practice:
+  * Metadata in the UFZ GeoNetwork are published under **CC0**
+  * Users are asked to credit UFZ in an appropriate manner when reusing metadata
+  * Information about the license and attribution request is clearly documented within GeoNetwork
+===== Communication and Adoption =====
+All data holders contributing to the UFZ GeoNetwork were informed about this change. The applied license and the request for attribution were made transparent directly within the metadata records.
+===== Recommendation =====
+We recommend that other research centres and data infrastructures consider a similar approach-using CC0 for metadata while encouraging attribution-wherever this aligns with their institutional goals and legal frameworks.
+===== Contact =====
+For questions or further information, please contact:
+**Johann Wurz ([[mailto:johann.wurz@ufz.de|johann.wurz@ufz.de]])**