Commission sets out plan to promote text and data mining

The European Commission has confirmed that it intends to revise EU rules to make it easier for researchers to carry out text and data mining.

In a communication published on 9 December, the Commission states it will enshrine in legislation an exception to EU copyright law that gives so-called public-interest research organisations legal certainty to carry out text and data mining for research purposes. This will be done by spring 2016, it says. In the communication, the Commission states that a lack of clear rules on text and data mining is harming the EU’s scientific performance and overall competitiveness. 

Science Europe, a Brussels-based group representing European funders and research organisations, and the League of European Research Universities both welcomed the announcement. However, both groups called on the Commission to clarify what is meant by public-interest research organisations. According to Leru, the exception should include industry and members of the public as well as research organisations and universities. In a statement, Leru called on the Commission to “proceed as speedily as possible”.