IQSS / IQSS/dataverse

Feature Request/Idea: Requiring users with a private link to accept Terms of Use

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#8,199 3 comments 2 reactions 1 assignee View on GitHub

@DDGerasimova is already working on this.

Since Oct 10, 2022.

Feature: Terms & Licensing Type: Feature User Role: Guest
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Description

Overview of the Feature Request
I am wondering if there is a chance that the ability for users with a private link to accept Terms of Use could be added? A private link is particularly useful during peer review to provide an opportunity for reviewers to access the dataset, associated with the paper, before the dataset is made public. In some situations, due to IRB or other requirements, dataset owners have to specify Terms of Use that all future users have to accept before downloading the dataset. Thus, in these situations, reviewers will need to be required to accept Terms of Use before downloading the dataset. It may be possible in some situations to make an exception for reviewers and not require them to accept Terms of Use before downloading the dataset; however, it may not be possible in other situations. In the latter situations, researchers will benefit from the ability of the private link to require accepting Terms of Use before downloading the dataset, as it will enable them to share data with reviewers during the review process.

Additionally, creating this feature will resolve the current inconsistency when different Terms of Use exist for the private vs public file. Currently, a privately accessed file does not require accepting Terms of Use and, thus, users with a private link are not obligated to follow Terms of Use (in contrast to those who will be accessing the public file).

What kind of user is the feature intended for?
(Example users roles: API User, Curator, Depositor, Guest, Superuser, Sysadmin)
Anyone who wants to download datasets.

What inspired the request?
The private link feature, as it currently functions, does not meet the IRB requirements for data sharing when there is a requirement to accept Terms of Use before downloading the dataset.

What existing behavior do you want changed?
It seems that currently the term/function "publishing" in Harvard Dataverse includes two things. The first is making data publicly accessible. The second is creating a permanent version of the dataset and the associated information (including Terms of Use). Currently, these two functions go together, but I think they do not need to. I think it will be highly beneficial if people, when working in the unpublished space, could create a permanent private version (so that there is a record in the system) and then create a private link for this version for review purposes; users with this private link then could be required to accept Terms of Use stated in this version. After the paper is accepted, the author then could go and make the dataset public (whether by making the current version public or by creating a new version if needed; when making the dataset public, all privately created versions could automatically become public).

Any brand new behavior do you want to add to Dataverse?
Please see above.

Any related open or closed issues to this feature request?
N/A

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