Researchers Guide Open Science Sharing
A new guide provides researchers in the Netherlands with clear instructions on how to use Creative Commons [CC] licenses to share their scientific work openly and legally online.
Navigating Complexities
This guide helps researchers navigate the complex world of copyright and intellectual property. It aims to answer common questions and concerns about using CC licenses.
It adapts a previous guide specifically for researchers in the Netherlands, focusing on scholarly publications and educational materials.
The guide explains the six different types of CC licenses, which act like building blocks combining four key elements:
- Attribution (BY): Requires giving credit to the original creator.
- Share Alike (SA): Requires new works to be licensed under the same terms.
- Non-Commercial (NC): Prohibits commercial use of the work.
- No Derivatives (ND): Prohibits changes or adaptations of the work.
It details how each license works and what conditions come with it. The guide also covers important topics such as copyright and agreements with publishers, stressing why researchers should keep control over their work.
CC Licenses and Copyright
The guide highlights that CC licenses are not an alternative to copyright but are rather built upon existing copyright rules. It stresses that researchers must understand the terms of the license they pick.
For example:
- The CC BY license is the most open option.
- It allows others to share, use for business, and even change the work.
However, there's a key rule: the original creator must always be given credit.
"By using a CC BY license, crediting the original work and stating the license under which the work is licensed is mandatory for all types of reuse."
This guide matters because it promotes open science, where research findings are freely available to everyone. It helps researchers choose the right license so their work can be easily shared and reused, speeding up discovery.
Funders like NWO and ZonMw already require specific CC licenses, making this guide essential for researchers seeking grants.
Important Considerations
One challenge noted is that CC licenses are permanent once applied. Also, the meaning of 'non-commercial' can sometimes be unclear.
The authors caution that this guide is not a substitute for legal advice. Future efforts could involve creating similar guides for other regions or specific fields of study.
By understanding CC licenses, researchers can ensure their valuable work reaches a wider audience, benefiting science and society.
Reference:
Braak, P., de Jonge, H., Trentacosti, G., Verhagen, I., & Woutersen, S. (2020). Guide to Creative Commons for Scholarly Publications and Educational Resources. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.4090923