ABIF Conditions of Use

The use of the ABIF Web Site and information provided through it are based on the principles outlined in the Data Use Agreement and Data Sharing Agreement. See also the Copyright Notice.

Data Use Agreement

Background
The goals and principles of making biodiversity data openly and universally available have been defined in the Memorandum of Understanding on GBIF (MoU; see the relevant excerpts in Annex). By signing the MoU Australia has expressed its willingness to make biodiversity data available to foster scientific research development nationally and internationally and to support the public use of these data.Data sharing should take place within a framework of due attribution.

Therefore, using data available through the ABIF network requires agreeing with the following:

• The quality and completeness of data cannot be guaranteed. Users employ these data at their own risk.
  
• Users shall respect restrictions of access to sensitive data.
  
• In order to make attribution of use for owners of the data possible, the identifier of ownership of data must be retained with every data record.
  
• Users must publicly acknowledge, in conjunction with the use of the data, the data providers whose biodiversity data they have used. Data providers may require additional attribution of specific collections within their institution.
  
• Users must comply with additional terms and conditions of use set by the data provider. Where these exist they will be available through the metadata associated with the data.
  

Data Sharing Agreement

Background
The goals and principles of making biodiversity data openly and universally available have been defined in the Memorandum of Understanding on GBIF (MoU; see the relevant excerpts in Annex).

By signing the MoU Australia has expressed its willingness to make biodiversity data available to foster scientific research development nationally and internationally and to support the public use of these data.

Data providers often participate in several data sharing arrangements at different levels (thematic, community, national, global).

Data sharing should take place within a framework of due attribution.

Therefore, when making their data available, the data providers agree as follows:

• Biodiversity data made available are openly and universally available to all users within the framework of the ABIF Data Use Agreement and with the terms and conditions that the data provider has identified in its metadata.
  
• ABIF does not assert any intellectual property rights in the data.
  
• The data provider warrants that they have made the necessary agreements with the original owners of the data that it can make the data available.
  
• The data provider makes reasonable efforts to ensure that the data they serve are accurate.
  
• Responsibility regarding the restriction of access to sensitive data resides with the data provider.
  
• The data provider includes stable and unique identifier in their data so that the owner of the data is known and for other necessary purposes.
  
• ABIF may cache a copy and serve full or partial data further to other users together with the terms and conditions for use set by the data provider.
  
• ABIF is not responsible for data content or the use of the data.
  
• ABIF is not liable or responsible, nor are its employees or contractors, for the data contents; or for any loss, damage, claim, cost or expense however it may arise, from an inability to use the data.
  

Definitions

• ABIF network: The infrastructure consisting of the services provided by ABIF and data providers.
  
• Biodiversity data: Primary data on specimens, observations, names, taxonomic concepts, and sites, and other related data on biological diversity.
• Metadata: Data describing the attributes and combinations of biodiversity data.
  
• Data: Biodiversity data and metadata.
  
• Data provider: A custodian of data making it technically available. This may or may not be the data owner. If not they will declare that they have permission of the owner of the data to make the data available.
  
• Data sharing: The process of and agreements for making data freely and universally available on the Internet.
  
• User: Anyone who uses the Internet to access these data.
  
• Owner of data: The legal entity possessing the right resulting from the act of creating a digital record. The record may be a product derived from another, possibly non-digital product, which may affect the right.
  
• Sensitive data: Any data that the Node does not want to make available, e.g. precise localities of endangered species.

Copyright Notice