The evolving U.S. policy environment for open research data

Abstract

This paper presents a brief overview of emerging policies to open up access to research data in the United States. It provides a summary of the drivers behind policy development, outlines some key precedents that serve as a foundation for an emerging research data policy framework, examines the latest policies and suggests a few ways that the academic and research communities can work to ensure that these policies continue to evolve in a direction that actively supports the best interests of the research enterprise.