Data release policy

As a public service, the raw sequence data from the sequencing projects noted below is being made available by the Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) before scientific publication. The purpose of this policy is to balance the imperative of the DOE and the JGI that the data from its sequencing projects be made available as soon and as completely as possible with the desire of the collaborators and the JGI reserve a reasonable period of time (a waiting period not to exceed 12 months from completion of the draft sequencing) to publish their results without concerns about potential preemption by other groups.

These pre-publication data are preliminary and may contain errors. Our policy is that early release should aid the progress of science. By accessing these data, you agree not to publish any articles containing analyses of genes or genomic data on a whole genome or chromosome scale prior to publication by JGI and/or its collaborators of its comprehensive genome analysis. All data will be made available without restriction not later than 12-months after completion of draft sequencing. During this waiting period, the data will be available for any kind of publication that does not compete directly with planned publications (e.g. reserved analyses) of the JGI and collaborators. A principal collaborator or “champion,” listed in the attached table will be the point of contact and arbiter regarding publication plans. Scientists are strongly encouraged to contact the JGI and/or its principal collaborator about their intentions and any potential collaborations.

On selected data sets, the current status of which will be indicated in the table, the DOE Joint Genome Institute reserves the exclusive right to publish, not more than 12 months following completion of the draft sequencing phase, the assembly and sequence along with an initial genome-scale analysis. Reserved analyses include the identification of complete (whole genome) sets of genomic features such as genes, gene families, regulatory elements, repeat structures, GC content, etc., and whole-genome comparisons of regions of evolutionary conservation or change. It is our expectation that papers dealing with specific genes, pathways, etc. will not be considered competitive and scientific users are free to use the draft sequencing data for such publications subject only to agreement from the collaborators. Data sets not currently included on the reserved list below may be considered free of all reservation on use. Studies of any type on the reserved data sets that are not in direct competition with those planned by the JGI and its collaborators may also be undertaken following an agreement to that effect. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the JGI to discuss such possibilities.

If these data are used for publication, the following acknowledgment should be included: “These sequence data were produced by the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute http://www.jgi.doe.gov/.” We request that you notify us upon publication so that this information can be included in the final annotation.

The data may be freely downloaded and used by all who respect the restrictions in the previous paragraphs. While still in waiting period status, the assembly and raw sequence reads should not be redistributed or repackaged without permission from the JGI. Any redistribution of the data during this period should carry this notice: “The Joint Genome Institute provides these data in good faith, but makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for any purpose for which the data are used.” Once moved to unreserved status, the data are freely available for any subsequent use.