1.  Objective

• The Network Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano (hereinafter “NWC”) within The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (hereinafter “NIED”) owns and operates observation networks for earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic activity and also administers and controls the huge bodies of data provided by the observation networks.
   Based on The Research Data Policy prescribed by NIED on March 6, 2019, and The Intellectual Property Policy prescribed by NIED on March 29, 2017, NWC will manage and operate the observation networks in a smooth and efficient manner with the aim of returning research data to society, and hereby states its basic policy for the purpose of delivering the maximum possible value for society.

2.  Definition of Data

• The data referred to herein means: Data obtained from the observation networks operated and managed by NWC (including core samples and other samples); Data provided by other organizations and which is managed by NWC; And other data derived thereof. Furthermore, this also includes publicly disclosed databases and software from among research results obtained by employees of NWC in the course of their duties, and data which is archived by NWC for the purpose of use and application among data that is not publicly disclosed (including back data that is the source for public data in research papers etc.),

3.  Attribution of Data

•  The abovementioned data shall belong to NIED, excluding cases where there are special arrangements in place, and for data provided by observation networks of other organizations. Re-distribution, selling, and alteration are strictly prohibited.

4.  Management, Control and Application of Data

•  NWC will make every effort to manage and control these bodies of data appropriately and to provide them seamlessly, for research and development, for the use and application in various fields, and in order to return the data to society.

5.  Handling of Data as Intellectual Property

•  Due to there being instances where data in the form of intellectual property has not only scientific value but also economic value, NWC will manage data appropriately based on NIED’s Intellectual Property Policy.

6.  Disclosure and Provision of Data to the Public

•  NWC will in principle, publicly disclose data through NIED’s Website. While NWC will strive to swiftly make public any data that is in the scope of disclosure, it may within reasonable bounds require preparatory periods and/or holding periods before disclosure. The provision of data will be conducted under certain prerequisites for which the specific handling will be prescribed separately. However, data not suitable for public disclosure from the perspectives of protecting intellectual property rights and protecting personal information shall be exempt from the scope of disclosure. Furthermore, any disclosed data may be suspended or amended without prior notice.

7.  Disposal of Data

•  NWC may, where appropriate, dispose of data (discarding/transfer).

8.  Disclaimer

•  NIED and NWC shall bear no responsibility whatsoever regarding any conduct or loss incurred by a party utilizing the data, except in instances where there are special arrangements in place. Furthermore, with regard to webpages that contain content created by NIED which are displayed on websites other than NIED’s, NIED and NWC shall have no concern regarding the contents thereof unless stated separately. In addition, NWC may revise this policy without notice.