This page lays out the principles under which Lipidbook operates. In particular it defines how the data are licensed and how we deal with personal information stored in the database.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding this policy please contact one of the individuals listed in the Contacts section.
Scientific progress benefits from data that anyone can access, use, modify, and redistribute without encumberance, as spelt out in the Open Knowledge Definition.
Scientists tend to subscribe to this point of view as part of their common work ethos. However, to avoid any ambiguity, we are expressing clearly the legal status for each data set. (If you wonder if this is necessary you can read the Open Data Commons FAQ.)
parameter filesor
parametersmeans any user-deposited files that are published through this web site. Typically, these files contain topologies, force field parameter values, and coordinates. Uploaded files are stored without modifications in the Lipidbook database.
Meta dataare user-supplied data other than files; this includes abstracts and comments.
package. A package is the unit in which parameters are deposited. A package also contains meta data.
curatorof a package is the registered user who deposits the parameter files. Curators have exclusive write and editing access to their submitted files. Note that a curator does not have to be the author of the parameter files.
linked fileis a cached copy of a parameter file that is stored in the WebCite® archive. The link to the cached file and the original link and the date of archival are stored in the Lipidbook database but not the actual file, as described under Archival of links instead of files through WebCite.
On deposition of parameter files, the curator must choose a licence for the data. If the curator does not have the authority to publish the data then they cannot upload the package.
A curator has the authority to publish the parameter files either
because they own the copyright, or because they have obtained
permission from the copyright holder, or because the data's licence
grants this permission, or because they can claim a case of fair
use
, or for other reasons not listed here.
If the parameters were derived by the curator or if the curator is an author on the primary citation then they own the copyright on their work unless they explicitly transferred copyright. A copyright holder can freely choose a licence or decide to place the uploaded files into the public domain. Specifying a licence such as the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike Licence described below does not in any way compromise the copyright; the copyright holder is free to licence the same files to other parties under completely different terms.
If the parameter files are placed in the public domain (using, for instance, the PDDL as described below) then the rights holder relinquishes all rights (including copyright) irrevocably and the data become as free and open as legally possible.
Parameter files can only be downloaded from the site if
The Lipidbook database is made available under the Open Database Licence: http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/. Any rights in individual contents of the database are licensed as indicated by the individual package licences. All meta data (abstracts, comments, ...) are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike Licence.
Lipidbook's static content (i.e. the text apart from user-supplied content as defined above and logos) is published under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence. It means you can use text and styles as long as you link back to lipidbook.org.
On deposition, the curator can either choose a licence that conforms to the
Open Knowledge Definition
or assert fair use
for the use of the data.
Fair use
is not a licence but indicates cases when the curator cannot obtain
proper clearance from the copyright holder but is confident that the parameters (or links
to the parameter files) can be published on Lipidbook anyway.
6.i Research and private study) then you can deposit them; however, the copyright holders can have the data removed at any time by contacting the operators or they can licence the data under one of the other licences. When depositing under fair use then you must make sure that there is some reference to the original author(s).
Cite the authors of the parameters that you are using!
The appropriate citation can be found in the file citations.txt
that is included in each package. Also check the description and the abstract
of the package for further relevant citations.
Any parameter set that has been released under a Attribution-Share Alike Licence or under fair use requires attribution to the original author (not the curator!). If you do not cite the original author then you cannot use these data in your work.
We also ask you to acknowledge Lipidbook in any publication in which you use parameters obtained through our site, citing
J. Domański, P. Stansfeld, M.S.P. Sansom, and O. Beckstein. Lipidbook: A Public Repository for Force Field Parameters Used in Membrane Simulations. J. Membrane Biol. 236 (2010), 255—258. doi:10.1007/s00232-010-9296-8.
Thank you.
Names and e-mail addresses are required for depositing data. This is the only way that one can link a curator to a real person. In order to ensure that data is not deposited in someone else's name we have to ensure that the address is valid.
The full name of the curator is shown for each package owned by this
person. The e-mail address is not shown. (In the future we might implement
a private mail
feature through which short notes can be sent to a
curator or a e-mail notification system when comments are posted on a
package. By default we will not send e-mail from Lipidbook and have the user
opt-in into any kinds of communications.) The operators will contact a curator
if there are questions about the licensing of the parameters or other
exceptional circumstances.
Names and e-mail addresses of persons who granted permission to include and licence a package on lipidbook are stored in the database but are not publicly visible.
We will not pass on your personal data to any other parties or use them for any other purpose than set out here.