Mars Inc. Cacao Genome Database claims Open Access, public domain: falls short
Connotea Imports 2012-07-31
Summary:
"This initially looked very promising: Mars, along with a number of collaborators...have sequenced the cacao genome and released it "Open Access" and "public domain" for the benefit of all....Let's take a look at how 'open' this Cacao Genome Project is by examining the fine print (of the license)....In order to get access to the data, you have to get an account (no anonymous access; obligatory registration is pretty counter-Open Access and arguably not 'public domain'). In order to get an account, you have to agree to a license....[The license appears to bar commercial use and explicitly bars redistributing the data without written permission.]...'Free' as in 'beer' they should have said...."