Legal aspects of linked data – the European framework

This paper portrays a general overview of the existing European legal framework that applies to the publication and consumption of linked data resources in typical settings. The point of view of both data publishers and data consumers is considered, identifying their rights and obligations, with special attention to those derived from the copyright and data protection laws. The goal of this analysis is to identify the practices that help to make the publication and consumption of linked data resources legally compliant processes. An insight on broader regulations, best practices and common situations is given.