Libraries at the centre of the debate on copyright and text and data mining: the LIBER experience

Abstract

In May 2013, LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, coordinated the withdrawal of research and industry end-user representatives from the Licences for Europe stakeholder dialogue on text and data mining (TDM). The reason? Because a dialogue which focused on licencing as a solution for TDM was not in the interest of the end-user or reducing barriers to data driven innovation.

Since then LIBER has worked to bring a broader representation of stakeholders together to discuss barriers to the use of TDM. The European Commission also launched a consultation on the copyright framework, opening the door for libraries to effect real changes in the copyright system in order to accommodate, and foster, advances in research in the digital age.

At the same time publishers such as Elsevier and Nature have launched their own TDM services and policies. The launch of these services are a welcome development, but, if the terms of service are too restrictive, it may be that libraries are signing away the rights of end-users over the long term for access in the short term.

This paper will explore: - The barriers to data driven innovation as identified in our work with stakeholders - The LIBER position on the need for legislation change to accommodate text data mining - Why licencing is not a scalable and long term approach to facilitating text and data mining