Over the past few years, I have participated in the Copyright Working Group of the QualiFAIR competence hub at the University of Oslo. This post highlights our main findings and recommendations for managing copyright in the context of FAIR research data.

About QualiFAIR

QualiFAIR addresses how qualitative, context-sensitive, and personally identifiable data can be archived and shared in line with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The hub brings together academic and technical-administrative staff from diverse disciplines, including anthropology, political science, medicine, linguistics, psychology, musicology, theology, and education.

Our primary aim has been to develop and share best practices—routines, procedures, and practical guidance—to support the sharing and reuse of qualitative data. These resources are intended for researchers, master’s and Ph.D. candidates, and research support staff across all departments and faculties at UiO.

As the leader of the Copyright Working Group, I am pleased to share that we have published a report on copyright challenges, co-authored with Agata Bochynska and Rebecca Josefine Five Bergstrøm. The report outlines the key issues researchers and institutions face as research becomes more open, and provides actionable recommendations.

Our main recommendations for the university include:

  • Developing clear information pages about copyright and licensing for researchers and students
  • Recommending appropriate licenses for different data types (both open and restrictive)
  • Implementing systems to support license management, from individual files to entire databases
  • Creating copyright *training courses for staff and students at all levels
  • Raising copyright awareness among managers and decision-makers
  • Clarifying roles and responsibilities, including points of contact for copyright questions for both students and staff

These challenges are not unique to the University of Oslo. Most research institutions encounter similar issues. There is a widespread need for a combination of policies, practical guidelines, training, and robust support systems to enable responsible and FAIR data sharing.