Data Licensing for Public Interest: A retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 open dataset

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for accessible public health data. However, navigating the complexities of data licensing remains a major challenge, complicating the aggregation, analysis, and sharing of such data. These difficulties are further compounded by diverse legal systems, each with its own copyright and intellectual property rules. This study examines the licensing terms of 301 datasets within the COVID-19 Open Data metadataset, revealing key barriers to public health data accessibility. To address these challenges, we propose a decision flow diagram to guide users through license compatibility and republishing permissions, enabling ethical and legal aggregation under permissive licenses. We also present practical guidelines for data producers in public health, aimed at improving the clarity and usability of shared data. These recommendations reflect common licensing issues and the needs of data users, promoting more effective data sharing. By addressing these barriers, this work offers strategies to enhance the availability and impact of public health data, supporting better responses to current and future global health emergencies.