Open Data

The OpenDefinition.org defines that "Open data and content can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose". This means that any user can copy data, reuse it, or analyze and re-process it for his or her own purpose, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control (cf. Auer et al 2007) and without financial or technical barriers. The goals of the open data movement are similar to those of other "Open" movements such as open source, open hardware, open content, and open access.

Murray-Rust et al argue that data related to published science should be explicitly placed in the public domain (Murray-Rust,  et al 2010).

Related terms: Open government data

References:

Auer, S. R., Bizer, C., Kobilarov, G., Lehmann, J., Cyganiak, R., Ives, Z. (2007), DBpedia: A Nucleus for a Web of Open Data, The Semantic Web, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 4825. p. 722.

Murray-Rust, P., Neylon, C., Pollock, R., Wilbanks, J. (2010). "Panton Principles, Principles for open data in science", 19 Feb 2010.

OpenDefinition.org, Project of the Open Knowledge foundation, The Open Definition