Neuroscience data and tool sharing: A legal and policy framework for neuroinformatics
Source: Neuroinformatics
2003;1(2):149-166.
Author: Eckersley P, Egan GF, Amari S, Beltrame F, Bennett R, Bjaalie JG, Dalkara T, De Schutter E, Gonzalez C, Grillner S, Herz A, Hoffmann K, Jaaskelainen IP, Koslow SH, Lee SY, Matthiessen L, Miller PL, Mira da Silva F, Novak M, Ravindranath V, Ruotsalainen U, PubMed ID: 15046238
Abstract:
The requirements for neuroinformatics to make
a significant impact on neuroscience are not simply
technical—the hardware, software, and protocols
for collaborative research—they also include
the legal and policy frameworks within which projects
operate. This is not least because the creation
of large collaborative scientific databases amplifies
the complicated interactions between proprietary,
for-profit R&D and public “open science.”
In this paper, we draw on experiences from the
field of genomics to examine some of the likely
consequences of these interactions in neuroscience.
Facilitating the widespread sharing of data and
tools for neuroscientific research will accelerate
the development of neuroinformatics. We propose
approaches to overcome the cultural and legal barriers
that have slowed these developments to date.
We also draw on legal strategies employed by the
Free Software community, in suggesting frameworks
neuroinformatics might adopt to reinforce
the role of public-science databases, and propose
a mechanism for identifying and allowing “open
science” uses for data whilst still permitting flexible
licensing for secondary commercial research.