General Terms of Use

Data deposits are subject to the DataverseNL General Terms of Use. In order to deposit a dataset, you must understand and accept these General Terms of Use.

Please note that the General Terms of Use include that:

Depositor (UM researcher wishing to deposit data in DataverseNL)
  • Depositor declares that Maastricht University is the only holder of rights to the deposited data package.
  • Depositor declares that the data package complies with the requirements outlined in the Research Data Management code of conduct.
  • Depositor is liable for the data package, its format and content, and the choice to disseminate the data.
  • Depositor declares that concerning the data package, he/she at all times complies with the Dutch Databases act (Databankenwet), the Copyright Act (Auteurswet), and the Code of Conduct for use of personal data in scientific research developed by the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU).
Repository (Maastricht University Dataverse)
  • In addition to the DataverseNL General Terms of Use, the Repository declares that:
  • The Repository will carry out its best effort to archive, and if so defined by Depositor, disseminate, the data package for at least 10 years.
  • Access rights for data users to the data are defined by Depositor or his/her coordinator/department director, based on the available options stated by Repository.
  • The administrators of the Repository have full access to the data package for archiving and maintenance purposes.
  • Repository has the right to deny inclusion of the data package in Repository or to limit its availability to data users.
  • To ensure accessibility to the data package, Repository has the right to modify the format and/or functionality of the deposited files.
  • If Repository ceases to exist or terminates its activities related to the deposited data package, Repository shall attempt to transfer the data package to a similar organization that will continue this statement with Depositor under as similar conditions as possible.
  • Repository informs the Depositor about changes concerning the deposited data to the email address provided by the depositor.


The Dutch law applies to the DataverseNL General Terms of Use and the data deposit. 

Operational guidelines

For more information on the system roles, organisational structure, acceptable publications, curation and data access protocols of DataverseNL at UM, see the operational guidelines.