Why licenses are important
Licenses define how research data, software, publications, images, or other research outputs may be used, shared, modified, or redistributed. They ensure legal clarity while enabling openness, reproducibility, and scientific impact.
Note: The following information is for general reference only. The Central Data Facility cannot provide you with binding legal advice.
1. Overview about Common License Types
A. Creative Commons (for data, images, documents)
| License | Key Features | Allowed Use? | Obligations | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC0 | Public Domain | unrestricted | none | Open datasets |
| CC BY | free use with attribution | yes | attribution | Articles, datasets |
| CC BY-SA | derivatives must share same license | yes | attribution + SA | Collaborative content |
| CC BY-ND | no derivatives | limited | attribution + ND | Figures, images |
| CC BY-NC | non-commercial only | limited | attribution + NC | Teaching materials |
| CC BY-NC-SA/ND | combined restrictions | limited | as specified | specific uses |
B. Open Data Licenses
| License | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| PDDL | Public Domain Dedication | fully open datasets |
| ODC-BY | attribution required | structured data |
| ODbL | share-alike for databases | collaborative databases |
C. Software Licenses (Open Source)
| License | Type | Features | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIT | permissive | minimal restrictions | scripts, tools |
| Apache 2.0 | permissive | patent protection | APIs, pipelines |
| GPLv3 | copyleft | derivatives must stay GPL | research software |
| BSD | permissive | simple conditions | libraries |
| AGPL | strong copyleft | applies to web services | server tools |
2. Which license should you choose?
What to consider:
- Legal & funder requirements
- Disciplinary norms
- Whether reuse is intended
- Whether derivatives should be allowed
- Whether commercial use is allowed
RDM recommendations:
- Open research data: CC0 or CC BY
- Databases: ODC-BY or ODbL
- Code: MIT or Apache 2.0
- Publications: CC BY (=funder standard)
3. Application Examples
Life Sciences
- Genomic datasets: CC0 → maximizes reuse
- Bioinformatics scripts: MIT → low barriers
- Microscopy images: CC BY → ensures citation
- EU Horizon projects: CC BY required
Humanities
- Digitized manuscripts: CC BY-SA for collaborative use
- Critical editions: CC BY-ND to protect integrity
- Historical geodata: ODbL
- Text analysis tools: MIT or LGPL
4. Patents, Intellectual Property & Support at the University of Freiburg
Before publishing research data, software, images, or other research outputs under an open license, researchers should first verify whether any part of the work may be patentable or otherwise commercially protectable.
Premature publication (including uploading to repositories) can jeopardize the patenting process.
For questions related to:
- patentability assessment
- protecting inventions prior to publication
- technology transfer and commercialization
- collaboration with industry partners
- legal and administrative procedures
please contact the Zentrum für Transferkompetenz (ZFT), University of Freiburg