The European Commission's recent announcement on access to scientific data specifically mentions not only scientists and research institutions, but also members of the public as potential users of scientific data.

Figshare goes from strength to strength in its offerings to researchers who want to put their data 'out there'.

Christine Borgman, of the UCLA Department of Information Studies, has written an interesting in-depth discussion paper on "the conundrum of sharing research data":

Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) will soon be launching a data discovery portal for ecosystem scientists to share their knowledge and data. TERN is a collaborative venture of Australian science facilities which aims to integrate and share their information and k

With the current global emphasis on sharing research data with the public, you might wonder - what can the public actually do with data? How can they access it, understand it, or apply it? Why might it be of interest to them, or you?

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is supportive of open data and sharing data to further collaboration and research in the biosciences.

Despite the inevitable funding cuts that austerity budgets bring, it's really not a bad time to be a UK researcher - lots of organisations want to help you manage and share your data.

Bonza is a film and television database with a difference. It provides around 2,400 records, including hard to find research material on French, Australian and New Zealand cinema and television.

Material in the databases includes:

ATSIDA captures and shares the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' voices. The repository's vision is to bring together datasets, information and electronic resources of long term significance for research relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Computer code is not a physical object and cannot be stolen, only copied, according to a recent US court ruling. A former Goldman Sachs programmer, who had been convicted of theft of trade secrets for making off with some of his employer's exclusive code, recently had his conviction quashed.

The grounds?

Since Goldman Sachs was not deprived of the use of the code - only of its exclusive use - what he did was not theft.

This ruling may have far-reaching consequences as the issues of what constitutes theft and piracy continue to be thrashed out.