Deposit licences
Understanding depositor warranties, repository rights, and submission agreements
In addition to reuse licences, repositories may require data producers to sign a deposit licence agreement when submitting data.
A deposit licence defines the responsibilities of both the depositor and the repository. It typically grants the repository non-exclusive rights to store, preserve and provide access to the data in line with agreed reuse conditions.
From the depositor’s perspective, this usually involves confirming that:
- they have the right to deposit the data
- copyright and ownership have been checked
- third-party permissions have been cleared
- ethical and legal obligations have been met.
Understanding deposit licence terms is essential for ensuring that data are preserved and shared responsibly. Data producers should ensure they understand the terms of the deposit licence before submitting data. Responsible repositories provide guidance on deposit terms and can support data producers in selecting appropriate reuse licences.
For example, the UK Data Service uses a standard Deposit Licence Agreement, with alternative institutional concordat arrangements in place for some organisations.