CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang=""> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="description" content="Legal tools for Open Data"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Licenses FAQ — Open Data Commons: legal tools for open data</title> <link href="https://fonts.cdnfonts.com/css/hk-groteks" rel="stylesheet"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="../../static/mmenu-js/dist/mmenu.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a.okfn.org/html/oki/panel/assets/css/frontend.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="../../static/css/main.min.css"> <script defer data-domain="opendatacommons.org" src="https://plausible.io/js/plausible.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="ok-panel" class="closed"><div class="container"><iframe src="https://a.okfn.org/html/oki/panel/panel.html" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div> <div id="ok-panel-wrapper"><a class="white ok-ribbon" href="https://okfn.org/"><img src="https://a.okfn.org/html/oki/panel/assets/images/oki-ribbon.png" alt="Open Knowledge"></a></div> <div id="page"> <a class="contents-toggle" href="#contents"> <span><span>Contents</span></span> </a> <div class="intro" id="top"> <div class="container"> <a href="../../" class="logo"><?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>  <svg version="1.1" id="Ebene_2" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 587.7 166.1" style="enable-background:new 0 0 587.7 166.1;" xml:space="preserve"> <style type="text/css"> .st0{fill:#FFFFFF;} .st1{enable-background:new ;} </style> <g> <g> <path class="st0" d="M83.1,54.7c13.9,0,25.8,10.1,27.9,23.9l12.1-12.1l30.4-30.4l-23.5-23.5L99.6,42.9V0H66.4v60.1 C71.3,56.6,77.1,54.7,83.1,54.7z M104.1,47.4L130,21.6l14.5,14.5l-25.8,25.8l-4.9,4.9c-3.2-6.2-8.3-11.2-14.5-14.5 C99.3,52.3,104.1,47.4,104.1,47.4z M93.4,6.4v43.6c-6.7-2-13.8-2-20.5,0.1V6.3C72.8,6.3,93.4,6.3,93.4,6.4z"/> <path class="st0" d="M111,87.5c-2.4,15.4-17,26-32.4,23.5c-4.4-0.7-8.6-2.4-12.2-5v60.1h33.2v-43l30.4,30.4l23.5-23.5l-30.4-30.4 L111,87.5z M93.4,123.1v36.6H72.8v-43.6c6.7,2.1,13.8,2.1,20.5,0.1V123.1L93.4,123.1z M130,144.5l-25.8-25.9l-4.9-4.9 c6.2-3.2,11.2-8.3,14.5-14.5l4.9,4.9l25.9,25.8L130,144.5L130,144.5z"/> <path class="st0" d="M12.6,36.1l30.4,30.4H0v33.2h42.9L12.6,130l23.5,23.5l24-24V99.7c-7.2-9.9-7.2-23.4,0-33.3V36.7L36,12.6 L12.6,36.1L12.6,36.1z"/> </g> <g> <g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M166.4,66.8c0-11.8,7.2-19.5,17.9-19.5c10.7,0,17.9,7.8,17.9,19.5c0,11.7-7.2,19.5-17.9,19.5 C173.6,86.3,166.4,78.5,166.4,66.8z M195.4,66.8c0-8.1-4.3-13.2-11.2-13.2s-11.2,5-11.2,13.2c0,8.1,4.3,13.1,11.2,13.1 S195.4,74.8,195.4,66.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M234.4,72.3c0,8.6-4.7,13.7-11.2,13.7c-3,0-6-1.2-7.6-3.2v13.6h-6.4V59h6.4v2.6c1.8-2.3,4.8-3.2,7.6-3.2 C230.5,58.5,234.4,64.3,234.4,72.3z M228,72.2c0-5.2-2-8.1-6.3-8.1c-4.7,0-6.7,3.4-6.7,8.1c0,4.6,2,8.2,6.6,8.2 C225.9,80.4,228,77.4,228,72.2z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M263.5,74.4h-18.1c0.3,3.5,2.4,5.8,6.6,5.8c2.4,0,4.5-0.8,6.3-2.8l4.5,3.9c-2.9,3.2-6.4,4.8-10.8,4.8 c-9.1,0-13-6.6-13-13.6c0-6.9,3.8-13.9,12.6-13.9c8.2,0,12.2,6.1,12.2,13.4C263.6,72.7,263.6,73.5,263.5,74.4z M257.4,69.3 c-0.1-3.4-2.7-5.4-6.1-5.4c-3.9,0-5.7,2.8-6.1,5.4H257.4z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M294.8,68.4v17.1h-6.4V70c0-1.8,0-5.9-4.9-5.9c-6,0-6,6.1-6,10.8v10.6H271V59h6.4v3.1 c1.9-2.5,4.8-3.6,8-3.6C291.4,58.5,294.8,62.1,294.8,68.4z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M343.1,85.5l-11.1-18.6l-7.1,7.2v11.4h-6.7V48.1h6.7v17.6l16.8-17.6h8.8l-13.9,14.2l14.3,23.3H343.1z"/> <path class="st0" d="M379.3,68.4v17.1h-6.4V70c0-1.8,0-5.9-4.9-5.9c-6,0-6,6.1-6,10.8v10.6h-6.4V59h6.4v3.1 c1.9-2.5,4.8-3.6,8-3.6C375.9,58.5,379.3,62.1,379.3,68.4z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M381.9,72.2c0-7.5,5-13.7,13.3-13.7c8.2,0,13.3,6.2,13.3,13.7c0,7.5-5.1,13.8-13.3,13.8 C387,86,381.9,79.7,381.9,72.2z M402,72.2c0-4.3-1.9-8.1-6.8-8.1s-6.8,3.8-6.8,8.1c0,4.3,1.9,8.2,6.8,8.2S402,76.5,402,72.2z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M411.3,59h6.9l4.5,16.6l5-16.6h5.5l5,16.5l4.6-16.5h6.9l-8.2,26.5h-5.8l-5.2-17.3l-5.2,17.3h-5.8L411.3,59z "/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M455.7,79.1V48.1h6.4v30.7c0,1.2,0.7,1.7,1.9,1.7c0.6,0,1.3-0.1,2-0.3v5.2c-1.4,0.5-2.9,0.8-4.1,0.8 C458.3,86,455.7,83.9,455.7,79.1z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M493.7,74.4h-18.1c0.3,3.5,2.4,5.8,6.6,5.8c2.4,0,4.5-0.8,6.3-2.8l4.5,3.9c-2.9,3.2-6.4,4.8-10.8,4.8 c-9.1,0-13-6.6-13-13.6c0-6.9,3.8-13.9,12.6-13.9c8.2,0,12.2,6.1,12.2,13.4C493.9,72.7,493.8,73.5,493.7,74.4z M487.7,69.3 c-0.1-3.4-2.7-5.4-6.1-5.4c-3.9,0-5.7,2.8-6.1,5.4H487.7z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M524.3,48.1v37.4h-6.4v-2.6c-1.8,2.3-4.8,3.2-7.6,3.2c-7.2,0-11.2-5.9-11.2-13.8c0-8.6,4.7-13.7,11.2-13.7 c3,0,6,1.2,7.6,3.2V48.1H524.3z M518.5,72.3c0-4.4-2-7.9-6.6-7.9c-4.3,0-6.3,3-6.3,7.9c0,4.9,2,7.8,6.3,7.8 C516.5,80.1,518.5,76.7,518.5,72.3z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M555.6,89.1c0,5.5-5,7.9-12.2,7.9c-7.9,0-12.4-2.9-12.4-8.4c0-0.6,0.1-0.9,0.1-1.2l3.8-2.4 c-1.9-1-3.2-2.7-3.2-5.4c0-2.3,0.9-4,2.5-5.3c-1.3-1.7-2.1-3.8-2.1-6.1c0-5.7,4.9-9.7,10.8-9.7c2.3,0,4.5,0.6,6.2,1.7l4-3.4 l3.4,4.1l-3.8,3.1c0.7,1.3,1.1,2.9,1.1,4.6c0,5.9-4.9,9.7-10.7,9.7c-1.8,0-3.5-0.4-5.1-1c-0.5,0.3-0.8,0.8-0.8,1.4 c0,1.9,2.7,2.5,6,2.9C548.6,82.2,555.6,82.7,555.6,89.1z M549.1,89.7c0-2-3.4-2.3-7.2-2.8l-2.2-0.3l-2.3,2.2 c-0.1,0.2-0.1,0.3-0.1,0.4c0,2.3,3.3,3,6.3,3C546.4,92.1,549.1,91.5,549.1,89.7z M538.5,68.4c0,2.5,1.5,4.6,4.5,4.6 c3,0,4.4-2,4.4-4.6c0-2.7-1.7-4.5-4.4-4.5S538.5,65.7,538.5,68.4z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M583.4,74.4h-18.1c0.3,3.5,2.4,5.8,6.6,5.8c2.4,0,4.5-0.8,6.3-2.8l4.5,3.9c-2.9,3.2-6.4,4.8-10.8,4.8 c-9.1,0-13-6.6-13-13.6c0-6.9,3.8-13.9,12.6-13.9c8.2,0,12.2,6.1,12.2,13.4C583.6,72.7,583.5,73.5,583.4,74.4z M577.4,69.3 c-0.1-3.4-2.7-5.4-6.1-5.4c-3.9,0-5.7,2.8-6.1,5.4H577.4z"/> </g> </g> <g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M170.1,107.8h8.9v2.1h-6.7v3h5.9v2.1h-5.9v5.4h-2.3V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M179.8,114.1c0-4,2.4-6.6,6-6.6c3.6,0,6,2.6,6,6.6c0,3.9-2.4,6.6-6,6.6 C182.3,120.7,179.8,118.1,179.8,114.1z M189.6,114.1c0-2.7-1.5-4.4-3.8-4.4s-3.8,1.7-3.8,4.4c0,2.7,1.5,4.4,3.8,4.4 S189.6,116.8,189.6,114.1z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M202.1,120.4l-3-5.2h-0.8h-0.8v5.2h-2.2v-12.6h4.1c3,0,4.3,1.4,4.3,3.6c0,1.8-0.8,3-2.3,3.5l3.4,5.5H202.1z M199.1,113.1c1.5,0,2.3-0.4,2.3-1.6c0-1.2-0.8-1.6-2.3-1.6h-1.6v3.2H199.1z"/> <path class="st0" d="M219.5,117.8h-4.9l-1,2.6h-2.5l5-12.6h1.7l5,12.6h-2.5L219.5,117.8z M218.7,115.7l-1.7-4.6l-1.7,4.6H218.7z "/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M231.3,107.8h8.9v2.1h-6.7v3h5.9v2.1h-5.9v5.4h-2.3V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M248,117.8h-4.9l-1,2.6h-2.5l5-12.6h1.7l5,12.6H249L248,117.8z M247.2,115.7l-1.7-4.6l-1.7,4.6H247.2z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M254.4,107.8h2.3v12.6h-2.3V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M267.1,120.4l-3-5.2h-0.8h-0.8v5.2h-2.2v-12.6h4.1c3,0,4.3,1.4,4.3,3.6c0,1.8-0.8,3-2.3,3.5l3.4,5.5H267.1z M264.2,113.1c1.5,0,2.3-0.4,2.3-1.6c0-1.2-0.8-1.6-2.3-1.6h-1.6v3.2H264.2z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M273.2,118.1h2.5l-2.3,5H272L273.2,118.1z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M282.4,116.8l2.2-0.6c0.2,1.5,1.2,2.4,2.6,2.4c1.3,0,2.1-0.6,2.1-1.7c0-0.9-0.7-1.4-2.5-2.2 c-2.6-1-3.6-2-3.6-3.8c0-2,1.6-3.4,3.9-3.4c1.7,0,3,0.8,3.8,2.3l-1.9,1.2c-0.4-0.9-1.2-1.4-2-1.4c-0.9,0-1.6,0.6-1.6,1.4 c0,0.8,0.6,1.3,2.5,2c2.7,1,3.6,2,3.6,3.8c0,2.4-1.8,3.9-4.4,3.9C284.7,120.6,282.8,119.1,282.4,116.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M294.7,115.8v-8.1h2.3v7.8c0,2.1,0.7,2.9,2.6,2.9c1.9,0,2.6-0.8,2.6-2.9v-7.8h2.3v8c0,3.3-1.6,4.9-4.8,4.9 C296.3,120.7,294.7,119.1,294.7,115.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M306.5,116.8l2.2-0.6c0.2,1.5,1.2,2.4,2.6,2.4c1.3,0,2.1-0.6,2.1-1.7c0-0.9-0.7-1.4-2.5-2.2 c-2.6-1-3.6-2-3.6-3.8c0-2,1.6-3.4,3.9-3.4c1.7,0,3,0.8,3.8,2.3l-1.9,1.2c-0.4-0.9-1.2-1.4-2-1.4c-0.9,0-1.6,0.6-1.6,1.4 c0,0.8,0.6,1.3,2.5,2c2.7,1,3.6,2,3.6,3.8c0,2.4-1.8,3.9-4.4,3.9C308.8,120.6,306.8,119.1,306.5,116.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M321.5,109.9h-3.9v-2.1h10.2v2.1h-3.9v10.5h-2.3V109.9z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M335.9,117.8h-4.9l-1,2.6h-2.5l5-12.6h1.7l5,12.6h-2.5L335.9,117.8z M335.1,115.7l-1.7-4.6l-1.7,4.6H335.1z "/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M342.3,107.8h2.3v12.6h-2.3V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M358.1,107.8v12.6h-2.4l-5.3-8.7v8.7h-2.3v-12.6h2.3l5.3,8.7v-8.7H358.1z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M368.4,117.8h-4.9l-1,2.6h-2.5l5-12.6h1.7l5,12.6h-2.5L368.4,117.8z M367.7,115.7l-1.7-4.6l-1.7,4.6H367.7z "/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M374.8,107.8h4.4c2.5,0,4,1.2,4,3.2c0,1.2-0.5,2.1-1.4,2.6c1.4,0.5,2.1,1.5,2.1,3.1c0,2.3-1.5,3.7-4.1,3.7 h-5V107.8z M379.2,112.8c1.1,0,1.7-0.5,1.7-1.4c0-1-0.6-1.5-1.7-1.5h-2.1v2.9H379.2z M379.6,118.3c1.3,0,2-0.7,2-1.8 c0-1.1-0.7-1.6-2-1.6h-2.5v3.4H379.6z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M386.9,107.8h2.3v10.5h5.4v2.1h-7.7V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M396.9,107.8h8.4v2.1h-6.1v3h5.7v2.1h-5.7v3.4h6.1v2.1h-8.4V107.8z"/> <path class="st0" d="M421,117.8h-4.9l-1,2.6h-2.5l5-12.6h1.7l5,12.6H422L421,117.8z M420.2,115.7l-1.7-4.6l-1.7,4.6H420.2z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M436.8,107.8v12.6h-2.4l-5.3-8.7v8.7h-2.3v-12.6h2.3l5.3,8.7v-8.7H436.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M440.4,107.8h3.7c4.2,0,6.6,2.3,6.6,6.4c0,4-2.3,6.2-6.6,6.2h-3.6V107.8z M443.9,118.3 c3.2,0,4.5-1.2,4.5-4.2c0-2.9-1.3-4.2-4.3-4.2h-1.4v8.5H443.9z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M458,114.1c0-4,2.4-6.6,6-6.6c3.6,0,6,2.6,6,6.6c0,3.9-2.4,6.6-6,6.6C460.4,120.7,458,118.1,458,114.1z M467.8,114.1c0-2.7-1.5-4.4-3.8-4.4c-2.3,0-3.8,1.7-3.8,4.4c0,2.7,1.5,4.4,3.8,4.4C466.3,118.5,467.8,116.8,467.8,114.1z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M473.4,107.8h4.1c2.8,0,4.3,1.2,4.3,3.6c0,2.4-1.5,3.7-4.3,3.7h-1.9v5.2h-2.2V107.8z M477.3,113.1 c1.6,0,2.3-0.5,2.3-1.6c0-1.1-0.7-1.6-2.3-1.6h-1.6v3.2H477.3z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M484.3,107.8h8.4v2.1h-6.1v3h5.7v2.1h-5.7v3.4h6.1v2.1h-8.4V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M505.7,107.8v12.6h-2.4l-5.3-8.7v8.7h-2.3v-12.6h2.3l5.3,8.7v-8.7H505.7z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M514.6,107.8h8.9v2.1h-6.7v3h5.9v2.1h-5.9v5.4h-2.3V107.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M525.2,115.8v-8.1h2.3v7.8c0,2.1,0.7,2.9,2.6,2.9s2.6-0.8,2.6-2.9v-7.8h2.3v8c0,3.3-1.6,4.9-4.8,4.9 C526.9,120.7,525.2,119.1,525.2,115.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M540.8,109.9h-3.9v-2.1H547v2.1h-3.9v10.5h-2.3V109.9z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M549.5,115.8v-8.1h2.3v7.8c0,2.1,0.7,2.9,2.6,2.9s2.6-0.8,2.6-2.9v-7.8h2.3v8c0,3.3-1.6,4.9-4.8,4.9 C551.2,120.7,549.5,119.1,549.5,115.8z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M569.6,120.4l-3-5.2h-0.8H565v5.2h-2.2v-12.6h4.1c3,0,4.3,1.4,4.3,3.6c0,1.8-0.8,3-2.3,3.5l3.4,5.5H569.6z M566.6,113.1c1.5,0,2.3-0.4,2.3-1.6c0-1.2-0.8-1.6-2.3-1.6H565v3.2H566.6z"/> </g> <g class="st1"> <path class="st0" d="M574.7,107.8h8.4v2.1H577v3h5.7v2.1H577v3.4h6.1v2.1h-8.4V107.8z"/> </g> </g> </g> </g> </svg></a> <h1> <svg width="709" height="77" viewBox="0 0 709 77" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M118.963 61.2139C105.852 61.2139 96.9121 51.4044 96.9121 36.6564C96.9121 21.8407 105.852 12.0312 118.963 12.0312C132.141 12.0312 141.014 21.8407 141.014 36.6564C141.014 51.4044 132.075 61.2139 118.963 61.2139ZM118.963 53.1633C127.373 53.1633 132.737 46.8041 132.737 36.6564C132.737 26.441 127.373 20.0818 118.963 20.0818C110.553 20.0818 105.19 26.3734 105.19 36.6564C105.19 46.8718 110.553 53.1633 118.963 53.1633Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M165.657 26.1704C174.531 26.1704 179.431 33.5444 179.431 43.5568C179.431 54.4487 173.67 60.8756 165.657 60.8756C161.949 60.8756 158.307 59.3196 156.254 56.8165V74H148.308V26.8469H156.254V30.1618C158.506 27.3205 162.148 26.1704 165.657 26.1704ZM163.671 53.7722C168.968 53.7722 171.485 49.9837 171.485 43.4892C171.485 36.927 169.034 33.2738 163.737 33.2738C157.976 33.2738 155.526 37.5359 155.526 43.4892C155.526 49.3072 157.976 53.7722 163.671 53.7722Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M214.013 43.0833C214.013 44.0981 213.947 45.1128 213.815 46.1952H191.433C191.764 50.5926 194.413 53.5016 199.578 53.5016C202.491 53.5016 205.14 52.5545 207.392 49.9161L212.888 54.8546C209.312 58.9137 205.008 60.8756 199.511 60.8756C188.254 60.8756 183.486 52.6221 183.486 43.6921C183.486 34.9651 188.122 26.1704 198.982 26.1704C209.113 26.1704 214.013 33.815 214.013 43.0833ZM191.366 39.7684H206.398C206.266 35.5063 203.087 32.9356 198.915 32.9356C194.081 32.9356 191.83 36.4534 191.366 39.7684Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M238.353 26.1704C245.703 26.1704 249.875 30.7707 249.875 38.6859V60.1991H241.929V40.7155C241.929 38.4153 241.929 33.2738 235.903 33.2738C228.486 33.2738 228.486 40.9184 228.486 46.8718V60.1991H220.54V26.8469H228.486V30.7031C230.804 27.5234 234.38 26.1704 238.353 26.1704Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M275.729 60.1991V13.046H289.105C304.402 13.046 313.143 21.7054 313.143 36.9946C313.143 52.0133 304.667 60.1991 289.039 60.1991H275.729ZM284.006 52.4192H288.244C299.899 52.4192 304.799 47.7512 304.799 36.6564C304.799 25.7645 299.899 20.8259 288.973 20.8259H284.006V52.4192Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M332.97 26.1704C341.578 26.1704 346.942 31.109 346.942 39.1595V60.1991H339.658L338.996 55.8694C337.075 58.9814 333.367 60.8756 329.063 60.8756C322.176 60.8756 317.276 56.343 317.276 49.9837C317.276 46.0599 318.997 43.0833 322.176 41.5949C324.361 40.5802 327.142 40.1066 330.851 40.1066H338.996V39.1595C338.996 35.5063 336.612 33.2738 332.837 33.2738C329.526 33.2738 326.414 35.0328 324.03 38.28L318.269 33.3415C322.176 28.5382 327.01 26.1704 332.97 26.1704ZM330.321 53.9752C335.089 53.9752 338.996 50.5249 338.996 46.1952H331.91C329.195 46.1952 327.606 46.5335 326.546 47.3453C325.685 47.9542 325.222 48.9013 325.222 50.119C325.222 52.4868 327.142 53.9752 330.321 53.9752Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M372.528 33.2738H364.383V50.2543C364.383 52.8927 365.973 54.1105 368.555 54.1105C369.681 54.1105 371.072 53.8399 372.528 53.3663V59.8608C370.542 60.5374 368.555 60.8756 366.569 60.8756C361.072 60.8756 356.437 57.9666 356.437 50.8632V33.2738H351.14V26.8469H356.437V20.42L364.383 14.399V26.8469H372.528V33.2738Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M392.334 26.1704C400.943 26.1704 406.307 31.109 406.307 39.1595V60.1991H399.022L398.36 55.8694C396.44 58.9814 392.732 60.8756 388.427 60.8756C381.54 60.8756 376.64 56.343 376.64 49.9837C376.64 46.0599 378.362 43.0833 381.541 41.5949C383.726 40.5802 386.507 40.1066 390.215 40.1066H398.36V39.1595C398.36 35.5063 395.976 33.2738 392.202 33.2738C388.891 33.2738 385.779 35.0328 383.395 38.28L377.634 33.3415C381.54 28.5382 386.375 26.1704 392.334 26.1704ZM389.686 53.9752C394.453 53.9752 398.36 50.5249 398.36 46.1952H391.275C388.56 46.1952 386.97 46.5335 385.911 47.3453C385.05 47.9542 384.587 48.9013 384.587 50.119C384.587 52.4868 386.507 53.9752 389.686 53.9752Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M449.959 55.9647C456.382 55.9647 458.832 50.8232 460.422 46.6965L465.388 48.8613C464.13 53.3263 459.958 61.1739 449.959 61.1739C437.112 61.1739 431.616 49.6732 431.616 36.8194C431.616 23.9656 437.112 12.4648 449.959 12.4648C459.958 12.4648 464.13 20.3124 465.388 24.7774L460.422 26.9423C458.832 22.8155 456.382 17.674 449.959 17.674C442.079 17.674 437.245 24.3715 437.245 36.8194C437.245 49.2672 442.079 55.9647 449.959 55.9647Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M488.919 61.1739C478.457 61.1739 474.152 52.7175 474.152 44.261C474.152 36.4811 478.457 28.0247 488.919 28.0247C499.382 28.0247 503.686 36.4811 503.686 44.261C503.686 52.7175 499.382 61.1739 488.919 61.1739ZM488.919 56.1C494.879 56.1 498.19 51.7027 498.19 44.261C498.19 37.4959 494.879 33.0985 488.919 33.0985C482.96 33.0985 479.649 37.4959 479.649 44.261C479.649 51.7027 482.96 56.1 488.919 56.1Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M538.409 28.0247C547.083 28.0247 546.818 38.1724 546.818 42.2991V60.7003H541.322V42.2991C541.322 38.646 541.322 33.0985 537.415 33.0985C534.369 33.0985 532.052 36.5488 532.052 46.0876V60.4974H526.688L526.555 42.0962C526.555 37.5635 526.224 32.8956 522.648 32.8956C519.602 32.8956 517.285 36.3458 517.285 45.8847V60.4974H511.987V28.7012H515.364L517.152 31.6102C518.41 29.513 520.463 28.0247 523.509 28.0247C527.416 28.0247 529.535 30.4601 530.727 33.4368C532.118 30.3925 534.502 28.0247 538.409 28.0247Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M583.461 28.0247C592.136 28.0247 591.871 38.1724 591.871 42.2991V60.7003H586.375V42.2991C586.375 38.646 586.375 33.0985 582.468 33.0985C579.422 33.0985 577.104 36.5488 577.104 46.0876V60.4974H571.74L571.608 42.0962C571.608 37.5635 571.277 32.8956 567.701 32.8956C564.655 32.8956 562.337 36.3458 562.337 45.8847V60.4974H557.04V28.7012H560.417L562.205 31.6102C563.463 29.513 565.516 28.0247 568.562 28.0247C572.469 28.0247 574.588 30.4601 575.78 33.4368C577.17 30.3925 579.554 28.0247 583.461 28.0247Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M614.806 61.1739C604.344 61.1739 600.039 52.7175 600.039 44.261C600.039 36.4811 604.344 28.0247 614.806 28.0247C625.269 28.0247 629.573 36.4811 629.573 44.261C629.573 52.7175 625.269 61.1739 614.806 61.1739ZM614.806 56.1C620.766 56.1 624.077 51.7027 624.077 44.261C624.077 37.4959 620.766 33.0985 614.806 33.0985C608.846 33.0985 605.535 37.4959 605.535 44.261C605.535 51.7027 608.846 56.1 614.806 56.1Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M656.879 28.0247C663.898 28.0247 668.533 33.3691 668.533 41.1491L668.467 60.4974H662.971L663.037 42.6374V41.1491C663.037 39.3901 663.037 33.0985 655.886 33.0985C647.807 33.0985 647.277 41.2167 647.277 46.0876V60.4974H641.979V28.7012H645.357L647.807 32.6926C650.058 29.4454 653.303 28.0247 656.879 28.0247Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M681.999 52.5145L686.635 50.0791C688.29 53.7999 690.078 56.1 696.303 56.1C699.812 56.1 702.858 55.3559 702.858 51.5674C702.858 48.1172 700.276 47.8466 695.574 46.8994C689.747 45.7494 683.853 44.1934 683.853 37.4959C683.853 31.2043 689.019 28.0247 695.376 28.0247C702.064 28.0247 706.434 31.4749 708.288 36.6841L703.653 39.1195C702.329 35.8723 700.607 33.0985 695.243 33.0985C691.8 33.0985 689.35 34.2486 689.35 37.4959C689.35 39.9313 690.674 40.6755 695.641 41.6903C701.402 42.8404 708.355 43.9904 708.355 51.5674C708.355 58.4002 702.858 61.1739 695.574 61.1739C688.687 61.1739 683.92 57.7237 681.999 52.5145Z" fill="white"/> <rect width="76.3886" height="77" rx="15" fill="url(#paint0_linear_940_86)"/> <path d="M51.8666 49.9471C45.7904 49.9471 41.7588 45.6362 41.7588 39.066C41.7588 32.4362 45.7616 28.0957 51.7803 28.0957C56.2726 28.0957 59.5843 30.4741 61.053 34.3984L56.8774 36.093C56.0998 33.7444 54.228 32.5552 51.7803 32.5552C48.3246 32.5552 46.28 34.8741 46.28 39.0065C46.28 43.1389 48.3822 45.4876 51.8666 45.4876C54.372 45.4876 56.1862 44.2687 56.8774 41.8606L61.1106 43.5254C59.6995 47.6579 56.3302 49.9471 51.8666 49.9471Z" fill="white"/> <path d="M19.3965 19.2415L31.7592 32.0251H14.2588V46.0123H31.719L19.3564 58.7959L28.9093 68.6741L38.7032 58.5468V46.0123C35.773 41.8203 35.773 36.1756 38.7032 31.9836V19.4905L28.9093 9.36328L19.3965 19.2415Z" fill="white"/> <defs> <linearGradient id="paint0_linear_940_86" x1="76.3886" y1="-2.35722e-06" x2="-1.61165" y2="75.3312" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"> <stop offset="0.239583" stop-color="#00D1FF"/> <stop offset="1" stop-color="#AEFFEC"/> </linearGradient> </defs> </svg> </h1> <span class="description">Legal tools for Open Data</span> </div> </div> <section> <div class="container"> <h2>Licenses FAQ</h2> <h2>General</h2><h4>Can one upgrade licenses?</h4><p>This is issue is only relevant to the ODbL (for all other licenses there is nothing to ‘upgrade’). For the ODbL the answer is yes — subject to some caveats. Similar to the Creative Commons’ share-alike licenses the ODbL has a clause that allows derivative works to be licensed under either a) that ODbL version b) later versions of the ODbL c) a compatible license (any compatible license would, for example, have to contain similar sharealike provisions if it were to be compatible). The intention here is to provide some flexibility to those producing derivative works in the future while ensuring that the key elements of any share-alike provisions are preserved.</p> <h4>Why do you distinguish between the “Database” and its “Contents”?</h4><p>The simplest answer is because they may have separate rights. For example, consider a database of photographs. Here there are the rights in the database and quite separate individual copyrights in the photographs. Or consider the example of Freebase which contains textual material and images from Wikipedia as well as user contributed material. While Freebase controls the database the individual items of contents need to have their own separate license.</p> <p>Of course much of the time the the Licensor of the database is also in the position to license the rights (if any) in the contents — the classic example would be a database containing factual data. For this reason we’ve created a very simple Database Contents License which you can use in conjunction with the ODbL to ensure that you’ve licensed everything.</p> <p>To summarise:</p> <ol> <li>For a homogeneous DB (No need to distinguish “Database” + “Contents” because you control rights in both or no independent rights in the “Contents”)</li> </ol> <ul> <li>For Share-Alike: Use Open Database License (ODbL) + Database Contents License (DbCL) (or some other suitable contents license of your choosing)</li> <li>For Public domain: Use Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL) (it covers both “Database” and “Contents”)</li> </ul> <ol> <li>For non-homogenous DB (need to distinguish “Database and Contents”):</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Share-alike: use ODbL for Database qua Database + whatever license you want/can for Contents</li> <li>Public domain: use PDDL for Database qua Database + whatever license you wish/can for Contents.</li> </ul> <h4>Why not use a Creative Commons (or Free/Open Source Software License) for data(bases)?</h4><p>Different types of subject matter (e.g. code, content or data) necessitate differences in licensing. Licenses designed for one type of subject matter — as CC licenses were designed for content, and F/OSS licenses for code — aren’t always best suited to licensing another type of subject matter.</p> <p>The Creative Commons licenses themselves illustrate this point as they were created at a time when there were already a variety of free/open-source software licences available that could, in theory, have been applied to “content” (e.g. text/images/films). However, it was felt that content was different enough from code to warrant a new set of licenses which took account of these differences (even though code shares most of the same IP rights, notably copyright, with “content”).</p> <p>Specific examples of the differences between data and content relevant to licensing include:</p> <ul> <li>The rights in data(bases) are often significantly different from those in content, both because of the existence of additional IP rights, such as the database right, and because normal copyright applies in a different, and usually ‘lesser’, fashion to data(bases) as compared to content.</li> <li>In licensing data(bases) one may need to distinguish between the data(base) and its contents. For example, one may have a database consisting of images and wish to (or have to) license the images (the contents) separately from the database itself.</li> <li>The distinction between the data(base) and material (content) generated from it (“produced works”) — a distinction which is not relevant when licensing “content”. For example, consider using a geospatial database to generate a map (an image). The map is distinct from the database and, as an image, is a classic piece of “content” but is has been generated from that database. This relationship is different from that between the database and a derivative database (e.g. a database created by adding the locations of post offices to the original database).</li> <li>The relationship and prominence of derivative works. Data(bases) are unlike content (but similar to code) in having a high level of reuse (as opposed to simple use or redistribution). For example, “mash-ups” are all about recombining and reusing data. This fact needs to be borne in mind when designing the licence and especial attention paid to the issue of reuse and derivative data(bases) — for example how must derivative material be made available when applying share-alike provisions.</li> </ul> <p>These sorts of issues suggest one may should be cautious in directly applying, say, Creative Commons licenses to data(bases). In fact, Creative Commons have themselves have recommended against using their licenses (other than CC0) for data and databases (which is also a reason, in and of itself, not to use CC licenses (other than CC0) for data, as CC are unlikely to able/willing to fix data-specific issues that arise in relation to those licenses).</p> <h2>Open Database License</h2><h4>Are Share-Alike provisions such as those in the ODbL enforceable in all jurisdictions?</h4><p><strong>Summary</strong>: The ODbL and its Share-Alike provisions will apply in a good number of jurisdictions (either via “rights” or contract). Where there is any uncertainty about the existence of “rights” or a contract no other licenses can do any better and at worst the license becomes a very clear statement of your “community norms”.</p> <p><strong>Details</strong>: This is a license for data and databases, as such you the licensor must be aware that any conditions you impose, such as Share-Alike, depend on:</p> <ul> <li>EITHER: You having IP rights over the material (whether in copyright, or database right)</li> <li>OR: This license being considered a contract between you (the licensor) and the user of the database.</li> </ul> <p>The rights around data and databases haven’t been harmonised internationally to the same extent as copyright. As a result, the on-the-ground protection of databases by law can vary significantly country-by-country. In some jurisdictions, e.g. the EU, the relevant “DB” rights certainly do exist, while in others, e.g. the USA, the situation is less clear.</p> <p>Where neither “DB” rights or a contracts exists no license will be enforceable. If this is of concern to you your only real alternative is to not make the database available.</p> <h4>Will the ODbL create legal uncertainty?</h4><p>The simple answer is: no.</p> <p><strong>As a User of ODbL licensed material</strong>: in order to have total legal certainty all you need to do is comply with the terms of the ODbL (in particular the share-alike requirement).</p> <p><strong>As a Licensor using the ODbL for your own material</strong>: as explained in the previous FAQ it is possible that in some jurisdictions there will be uncertainty as to whether there are sufficient underlying “rights” for the ODbL (or any other license) to have effect. However:</p> <ul> <li>The ODbL will apply in many jurisdictions (either via “rights” or contract).</li> <li>Where there is any uncertainty about the existence of “rights” or a contract no other approach can do any better and at worst this license becomes a very clear statement of your “community norms”.</li> </ul> <h4>What is ‘substantial’?</h4><p>The ODbL talks about ‘substantial’ part of the contents in relation to ‘Extraction’ and ‘Reutilisation’. This terminology derives from the Database directive and determining what exactly substantial means is ultimately up to the courts.</p> <p>A community could draft its own guidelines if it wished and these would likely exercise a strong influence on most users (after all most compliance is driven by the community not by the courts). However, it would be important to realise that the exact interpretation would remain with the courts.</p> <h4>Choice of law and jurisdiction clause</h4><p>Often in commercial agreements (contracts or licenses or both) it is a good idea to put clauses such as choice of law (what law applies) and choice of jurisdiction (the forum agreed to by the parties) into the agreement. As a side note, agreements also often specify mediation or arbitration as a way to resolve disputes among the parties (though this varies in enforceability).</p> <p>The difficulty in applying these clauses to open licenses, and specifically to the ODbL, lies in that the scope of the ODbL is global and may involve parties anywhere in the world in a wide variety of uses. So in effect there is a conflict between a “Public Licence”, which is meant to be somewhat generic and apply to a wide audience (and thereby create a broader community of users) and what may be desirable or enforceable for one specific project with one specific type of database.</p> <p>The ODbL allows for the choice of law to be where the licence is being enforced – the place where the court dealing with the case sits – rather than specifying a certain choice of law and making, for example, a Vietnamese database provider and an Egyptian user settle disputes under Scottish law. Making them actually travel to Scotland to settle these disputes would be unfair (and potentially unenforceable), which is why there is no choice of venue clause.</p> <p>The approach of not setting a certain jurisdiction is the same as taken in the Creative Commons “unported” licenses.</p> <h2>Public Domain Dedication & License</h2><h4>The Science Commons Protocol mentions “unfair competition” and I don’t see this in the PDDL. What is it and how is it addressed in the PDDL?</h4><p>The short answer to the unfair competition issue is that after some initial research it looks like that most (if not all) unfair competition claims would be negated by using this document and making the data publicly available.</p> <p>“Unfair competition” in US law (presumably what was intended by Science Commons) is a REALLY broad term for quite a few distinctly different rights of action, including:</p> <ul> <li>Trade secrets;</li> <li>Publicity rights;</li> <li>Trade mark claims;</li> <li>Passing off (which is a lot like trade mark);</li> <li>Deceptive advertising;</li> <li>Other kinds of unfair methods of competition</li> </ul> <p>As you can imagine, the areas outlined above have a variety of different elements. One common theme that could be said about many of these areas is that they involve using some aspect of a business without permission. And permission to use the data is, after all, what is granted in the PDDL.</p> <p>Take trade secrets for example. The law protects secret information. If you use the Public Domain Dedication & Licence and make your data available via the internet, it can’t be a secret any more because you’ve let everyone see it. So there isn’t a need to address this in the licence.</p> <p>We admit that this is a tricky area. Currently, lots of data providers use all sorts of varieties of unfair competition to protect their data, and this area of law is not internationally harmonised. If you think that there is an example or cause of action that needs to be addressed to either meet the Protocol or to facilitate data sharing, let us know.</p> </div> </section> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="footer-logo" href="https://okfn.org/"> <img src="https://a.okfn.org/img/oki/landscape-white-234x61.png"> </a> <div class="footer-secondary-links"> <ul> <li><a href="https://okfn.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://okfn.org/ip-policy/">IP policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://okfn.org/cookie-policy/">Cookie policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://okfn.org/terms-of-use/">Terms of use</a></li> </ul> <ul class="footer-social"> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/okfn"> <img src="../../static/img/x-logo.png" alt="Twitter"> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/openknowledgefdn"> <img src="../../static/img/youtube-logo-circle.png" alt="YouTube"> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@okfn"> <img src="../../static/img/mastodon-logo.png" alt="Mastodon"> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-knowledge-foundation/"> <img src="../../static/img/linkedin-logo.png" alt="Linkedin"> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://github.com/okfn"> <img src="../../static/img/github-logo.png" alt="GitHub"> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://okfn.org/newsletter"> <img src="../../static/img/newsletter.png" alt="Newsletter"> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <hr> <p>The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation. It is incorporated in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, with company number 05133759. VAT Registration № GB 984404989. Registered office address: Open Knowledge Foundation, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE, United Kingdom.</p> </div> </footer> </div> <nav id="contents"> <ul> <li><a href="../../">Home</a></li> <li> <a href="../../licenses/">Licenses</a> <ul> <li> <a href="../../licenses/odbl/">Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL)</a> <ul> <li><a href="../../licenses/odbl/summary/">Summary</a></li> <li><a href="../../licenses/odbl/1-0/">Full Legal Text</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="../../licenses/by/">Open Data Commons Attribution License (ODC-By)</a> <ul> <li><a href="../../licenses/by/summary/">Summary</a></li> <li><a href="../../licenses/by/1-0/">Full Legal Text</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="../../licenses/pddl/">Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL)</a> <ul> <li><a href="../../licenses/pddl/summary/">Summary</a></li> <li><a href="../../licenses/pddl/1-0/">Full Legal Text</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="../../norms/">Norms</a> <ul> <li><a href="../../norms/odc-by-sa/">ODC Attribution-Sharealike Community Norms</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="../">FAQ</a> <ul> <li><a href="./">Licenses FAQ</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="../../about/">About</a> <ul> <li><a href="../../about/advisory-council/">Advisory Council</a></li> <li><a href="../../contact/">Contact</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> <script src="../../static/mmenu-js/dist/mmenu.polyfills.js"></script> <script src="../../static/mmenu-js/dist/mmenu.js"></script> <script> document.addEventListener( "DOMContentLoaded", function() { new Mmenu("#contents", { navbar: { title: "Open Data Commons"} }); } ); </script> <script src="https://a.okfn.org/html/oki/panel/assets/js/frontend.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </body> </html>