Case Study: Controlling Access to Data

Read the following case study that involves controlling access to data.

A research contract between the University of Minnesota and Company XYZ specifies that data resulting from sponsored research can be published after review by the company. The company reserves the right to remove data that it considers proprietary from the publication and the University agrees to withhold publication of the data for up to 6 months so the sponsor can release the findings at their Annual Meeting.

However, before the Annual Meeting occurs, a citizens' group requests open access to the data, claiming they are acting in the interest of the public.