Introduction to ESDS International

1. Introduction to ESDS International Licensing International Macro Datasets: The ESDS Experience Celia Russell Economic and Social Data Service MIMAS April 14th 2004 University of Manchester Celia Russell & Keith Cole Economic and Social Data Service MIMAS, University of Manchester IASSIST 2004 University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin, USA

2. Structure of Talk • The ESDS International Data Service • The international macro data portfolio • Negotiating data licences – keys to success • Problems and challenges • Key achievements

3. ESDS International • Led by MIMAS at the Manchester University in partnership with the UK Data Archive and is funded for five years. • Provides the UK academic community with free web-based access to a range of key international macro databanks produced by organisations such as the United Nations, the IMF, the OECD and the World Bank • Helps users to locate and acquire international micro level datasets • Promotes the use of international datasets in research and teaching across a range of disciplines

4. ESDS International Data Portfolio

5. Agreements with international data providers • During 2003, UK wide data redistribution agreements were put in place with the following organisations: • the International Monetary Fund • the OECD • the United Nations • the World Bank • Eurostat (being signed) • the International Labour Organisation • What were the keys to success?

6. Keys to success I • Establishing a data acquisition budget for international macro datasets • UK falling behind relative to US in terms of access to international macro data • Cost of institutional licences a major barrier to use • Phase 1: Providing continuing access to existing portfolio of datasets available (January 2003) • Phase 2: Enhancing portfolio to extend topic coverage (July 2003) • Employing professional negotiation agent (Databeuro) • Established network of contacts • Experience of working with IGOs • Excellent negotiation skills • Increased credibility with IGOs • Cost effective (paid by results!) • Minimised travel (3 deals brokered in one day at 2003 London Book Fair)

7. Keys to success II • Proven expertise in providing secure access to ‘commercial’ datasets • MIMAS a national data centre for UK HE & FE (e.g. Web of Knowledge, JSTOR) • Interfaces integrated with national access management system (ATHENS) • Providing a clear definition of the scope and operation of the service • Access restricted to UK Higher & Further Education sectors (reflects funding) • Data to be used for academic purposes only • Commercial use explicitly excluded • User required to complete an End User Licence agreement • User registration database – important for auditing purposes

8. Keys to success III • Development of a Model Licence • Based on an existing model licence used for the licensing of commercial datasets for academic purposes • Formed the basis of the agreement where an IGO did not have a existing licence model that could be used for a consortium purchase • Sets out the key terms and conditions of use and obligations of the data provider • Provided scope for insertion of IGO specific clauses • Facilitated integration of service into ESDS registration system and national access management system • But, required significant support of the University of Manchester Contracts Officers

9. Keys to success IV • Enthusiasm of the IGOs • Desire to see data being used in academic research and teaching • Desire for greater transparency and accountability • Considerable interest in the vision of a common user interface • ‘Snowball effect’ with other IGOs after the signing of the agreement with the IMF

10. Problems and challenges I • Convincing IGOs that they were not going to loose out financially by agreeing to a consortium purchase. • Getting IGOs to agreeing to a reduced periodicity of supply to reduce costs (e.g. twice a year instead of monthly) • Where an IGO had a model licence (e.g. OECD) it was necessary to get it modified to put it in line with the other agreements • Obtaining agreement on data supply formats. Not all IGOs (e.g. UN) had systems in place for bulk export

11. Problems and challenges II • Minimising the risk to the University of Manchester • Aggregate liability limited to licence fee • Not being liable for a breach caused by an user providing UoM has not caused the breach and takes action against the user • Removal of legal jurisdiction clause (due scale of punitive damages in North America). Replaced with an arbitration procedure (UNICTRAL rules) • Impact of IGO special conditions • Restricting number of series in a single download (OECD) required interface modifications • Required modification to ESDS registration system. Agreeing to special conditions an additional one off step • The unexpected! • Eurostat financial scandal • Negotiations had to start again in Nov 2003

12. Key achievements • By the end of 2003 all agreements (except Eurostat) signed – including phase 2 data acquisition • For many IGOs it is the first time they have agreed to country wide level agreements for current releases of their databanks. Consortium approach now being extended to other countries (e.g. Brazil & OECD) • Consortium approach has delivered significant savings (~90% discount) and provided access to data for a five year period. Free at the end point of use! • Removing a key barrier to use has established a new user community and facilitated capacity building • 1,465 users from 129 institutions in under 12 months • 60% of users postgraduate/undergraduate students • Users from a wide range of social science disciplines