Who owns scientific data? The impact of intellectual property rights on the scientific publication chain

Abstract

Intellectual property rights have become increasingly important in scientific research. As the legal regime has been tightened and attitudes of funders, employers and researchers have changed, serious challenges are emerging to the free flow of ideas and information on which the scientific enterprise rests. It is important that individual scientists are aware of their rights and convinced to use them in the public good. © Sir Roger Elliott 2005.