International Symposium on Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data and Information for Science
UNESCO Headquarters, Fontenoy Room II
Paris, France — 10-11 March 2003

This international symposium was held 10-11 March 2003 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, to address the following Statement of Task:

  1. Describe the role, value, and limits that the public domain and open access to digital data and information have in the context of international research.
  2. Identify and analyze the various legal, economic, and technological pressures on the public domain in digital data and information, and their potential effects on international research.
  3. Review the existing and proposed approaches for preserving and promoting the public domain and open access to S&T data and information on a global basis, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries.
  4. Identify and analyze important issues for follow up by the ICSU family of organizations and for the development of an Action Plan in this area by ICSU and UNESCO in preparation for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

The symposium brought together leading experts and managers from the government and academic sectors in the developed and developing world, who are involved in the creation, dissemination, and use of data and information in public research.  Additional background information is available.

Symposium Report

The proceedings of the symposium will be taped, transcribed, edited, and published jointly by the collaborating organizations. The report will be published in hard copy and online on the National Academies Web site, with links to the other collaborating organizations' Web sites. The ICSU and UNESCO Action Plan will be prepared and disseminated separately.

Relevant Links

         World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
         ICSU and the WSIS
         UNESCO and the WSIS
         UNESCO On-line Discussion Forum for a Civil Society (9 December 2002 through 15 January 2003)

National Academies Contacts

         Paul Uhlir, Director, U.S. National Committee for CODATA
         Julie Esanu, Program Officer, U.S. National Committee for CODATA


CODATA Contact

         Kathleen Cass, Executive Director, CODATA