What is data ownership, and does it still matter under EU data law?
Summary
This report examines the concept of data ownership, noting its lack of
definition and regulation at the EU level and in legal literature. Due
to the non-rivalrous, non-exclusive, and inexhaustible nature of data,
the focus should shift from ownership to access and usage rights. The
Data Act addresses this by targeting data holders and emphasizing
access and usage rights rather than ownership. This approach aligns
with the open data community's principles of promoting data
availability and reuse. The Act, set to become applicable on 12
September 2025, aims to streamline these rights in a consistent
manner.