Policies on Use of AGN Watch Data

We have therefore formulated a policy whose intent is (1) to make sure that the individuals who obtained and reduced various data properly receive credit for their work and (2) to promote rather than impede further analysis of the data. This policy was developed with the advice of a small ad hoc committee of participants who are likely to be affected by any decisions on distribution of data; these individuals contributed large amounts of high-quality spectra which cover a large wavelength range, and these data have not been fully exploited at this time.

This policy is not comprehensive and does not cover all contingencies, and in many cases users of the data will have to exercise their own judgment. The underlying principles are (1) all astronomers should have access to the original data after some reasonable interval, and (2) those who contributed data should receive credit, in the form of co-authorships of scientific papers, on a ``first-use'' basis (i.e., the first time the data are used in a refereed publication).

The policy on distribution and use of AGN Watch data is as follows:

• There are NO restrictions on any data which have appeared in the published literature other than those normally observed.
• Most data sets, including optical spectra, are disseminated exactly as received with no corrections or adjustments applied. In some cases, we will make more heavily processed versions of data available, although we are under no obligation to do so (this will generally depend on how much work it involves).
• For data obtained with publicly available facilities (e.g., IUE or HST), restrictions imposed by the relevant agencies supersede any AGN Watch restrictions. This includes policies on proprietary periods.
• For AGN Watch members, the restrictions on data, as described below, apply only to publication in refereed journals. Data may be used freely in conference proceedings, reports, and proposals, for example - the main reason for restrictions is to make sure that publication of consortium work in refereed journals is not jeopardized because the data have already appeared in a refereed journal.
• Anyone who is a contributor of data (i.e., a co-author on the relevant paper) or a co-investigator on a particular project can have a copy of all the data at any time after the final calibration, etc., has been agreed upon. In practice, this may mean that the original data are not available until the data paper has been submitted to a refereed journal. All data are regarded as provisional, however, until the data paper is actually accepted by a refereed journal.
• Some AGN Watch data (including the optical spectra) are obtained by individual Principal Investigators (hereafter PIs) through various facilities will be dealt with as follows:
  • Data donated to the AGN Watch by individuals or groups of individuals are regarded as in the public domain two years following the submission date of the AGN Watch paper in which the data are first presented.
  • Anyone who wants to use any particular spectrum or image within two years of submission of the AGN Watch paper in which the spectrum is first presented must contact the PI and offer the PI and whomever the PI feels is appropriate (within reason, of course) co-authorship on any paper being prepared for a refereed journal. The PI may decline co-authorship, in which case the data may be used freely, but may not either refuse permission to use the data or obstruct submission of the paper to a refereed journal (of course, the PI may feel free to offer criticism and advice, just as any co-author might, but if the advice or criticism is not heeded, the PI can remove his/her name from the paper, but cannot otherwise obstruct submission of the paper).