====== 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]])**