5.1 Data Rights

Observers have exclusive access to their science data during a proprietary period. Normally this period is the 12 months following the date on which the data, for each target, are archived and made available to the investigator after routine data processing. At the end of the proprietary period, data are available for analysis by any interested scientist through the HST Archive.

Proposers who wish to request a proprietary period shorter than one year (3 or 6 months), or who are willing to waive their proprietary rights altogether, should specify this in the proposal (see Section 8.7). Because of the potential benefit to the community at large, particularly (but not exclusively) in the case of snapshot programs, proposers should give this possibility serious consideration (it is one of the selection criteria; see Section 6.2).

Data taken under a GO pure parallel program (see Section 4.2.2) will have zero proprietary period. Data taken under the GO Treasury Program (see Section 3.2.4) will have no proprietary period, although brief proprietary periods may be requested, if they will enhance the public data value.

If you request a shortened proprietary period, then you should explain the benefits of this in the 'Special Requirements' section of the proposal (see Section 9.3). Proprietary periods longer than 12 months may on rare occasions be appropriate for long-term programs (see Section 3.2.3). Requests for data-rights extensions beyond 12 months must also be made in the 'Special Requirements' section of the proposal (see Section 9.3); such requests are subject to panel and TAC review and approval by the STScI Director.