Data Sharing Terms for the speciesLink Network

(version 1.0)

The speciesLink network is an information system that integrates and shares scientific biodiversity data from species collections and observations in nature, with an emphasis on specimens preserved in biological collections. These Terms establish the principles of collaboration between the participating collections (Providers) and CRIA (Reference Center on Environmental Information), which is responsible for the management and maintenance of the network.

1. Purpose of the Partnership

The fundamental objective of this partnership is the democratization of scientific knowledge. Through the network, textual data and images on biodiversity are integrated into a central repository to be made available in a free and open manner for research, education, and decision-making.

2. Responsibilities of CRIA (management and hosting)

CRIA commits to:

  1. Hosting and Performance: Maintain the necessary infrastructure to process, index, and host the data sent by Providers, ensuring availability and speed in searches.
  2. Indexing Optimization and Standardization: Perform standardization, interpretation and validation of specific fields (such as taxonomy, dates, and coordinates) to optimize search tools and increase result accuracy.
  3. Quality and Tools: Provide applications for inconsistency diagnostics, automatic georeferencing, and data visualization, contributing to the continuous improvement of data quality.
  4. Automatic georeferencing: For records without geographic coordinates, the system can assign approximate coordinates based on the municipality provided, explicitly stating the origin of this data.
  5. Provenance and attribution: Ensure clear identification of the source, authorship, and responsibility for the data, guaranteeing recognition of the Provider as the primary origin of the information.
  6. Ownership: Acknowledge that the intellectual property of the data belongs exclusively to the Provider.
  7. Interoperability: Provide the means for sharing data with other networks (such as GBIF and SiBBr), subject to prior authorization from the Provider.

3. Responsibilities of the Provider (Collections)

By joining the network, the Provider commits to:

  1. Curatorship and Submission: Maintain and update the digital data of its collection and send it regularly to the network server in a compatible format.
  2. Content Filtering: It is the sole responsibility of the Provider to block the submission of sensitive, confidential, or restricted-access data. Once submitted to the network, the data becomes public access.
  3. Local Maintenance: Ensure the proper functioning of local systems that allow for data extraction and submission.

4. Data and Image Licensing

To ensure legal certainty for scientific use and open access, the data integrated into the network are governed by Creative Commons (CC) licenses:

  • Textual Data: CC BY 4.0 (Attribution), which gives users the right to share (copy and redistribute) and adapt or transform and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially. In return, users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license and indicate if changes were made.
  • Images: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Attribution-ShareAlike)U, which means users are free to share, copy, and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially, provided they give appropriate credit. Users are also free to adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. If users remix, transform or build upon the material, they must distribute their contributions under the same license as the original.

5. Term and Termination

Participation in the network is based on mutual trust and is for an indefinite term. At any time, the Provider may request to stop data submission and withdraw its data from the network, or CRIA may suspend integration for technical or compliance reasons, provided a 30-day prior notice is given.