Collections Data Use Policy

This policy describes the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) Collections policy regarding data use, data sharing, and attribution. Data here refers to specimen information as well as specimen images produced by PRI Collections. Note that this policy does not apply to the Gertrud Wolfner PRI Archives.

1.    PRI Collections applies the Creative Commons 0 (CC0) waiver to all data made available through our online database or other means, including data aggregators with whom we have shared our data, e.g. iDigBio. Users can copy, use, modify, repackage, and distribute the data without first obtaining permission from PRI Collections. By using CC0 to dedicate our data to the public domain, the PRI Collections aims to facilitate the free use of our data by the public as part of our mission to increase scientific knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.

2.    Although PRI Collections has endeavored to publish accurate data, understand that the data are subject to change, errors, and sampling bias. Please do not use the data in any way that is unlawful, harmful, or misleading.

3.    PRI Collections deserves credit for the time and effort we have invested identifying, curating, digitizing, maintaining, and publishing our specimen data. Although CC0 removes the legal requirement that data users provide attribution, it does not void the ethical responsibility to give credit where credit is due. As is common practice in scientific research, cite the source for the data you are using.

4.    Please let us know if you have used our data. Contact us if you wish to share comments about our data, to report errors, or would like more information. You can contact PRI Collections by sending a message to [email protected].

5.    The preferred citation formats for data provided by PRI are as follows:

This text has been adapted from the Canadensys norms for data use and publication (community.canadensys.net/about/norms)

Approved by the Paleontological Research Institution Board of Trustees April 2017.

Collections Data Use Policy | PDF