
Draft Letter of Understanding
Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International
and [the Statistical Bureau of Country X]
Purpose. The purpose of this letter is to specify the terms and conditions under which microdata samples provided by the Statistical Bureau of Country X shall be distributed by Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International of the University of Minnesota.
It is expected that, where a signed agreement is required, the national census authority will modify this draft as necessary, specifically to assure compliance with all legal requirements for the use of data for Country X.
- Ownership
. The Statistical Bureau of Country X is the owner and licensee of the intellectual property rights (including copyright) in microdata supplied to the University of Minnesota to be distributed by Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International.
- Use
. These microdata are provided for the exclusive purposes of teaching, academic research and publishing, and may not be used for any other purposes without the explicit written approval, in advance, of the Statistical Bureau of Country X.
- Authorization
. To access or obtain copies of integrated microdata samples of [Country X] from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International, a prospective user must first submit an electronic authorization form identifying the user (i.e., principal investigator) by name, electronic address, and institution. The principal investigator must state the purpose of the proposed project and agree to abide by the regulations contained herein. Once a project is approved, a password will be issued and data may be acquired from servers or other electronic dissemination media maintained by Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International, the Statistical Bureau of Country X, or other authorized distributors. Once approved, the user is licensed to acquire microdata of [Country X] from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International or other authorized distributors. No titles or other rights are conveyed to the user.
- Restriction
. Users are prohibited from using [nationality] microdata acquired from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International or other authorized distributors in the pursuit of any commercial or income-generating venture either privately, or otherwise.
- Confidentiality
. Users will maintain the absolute confidentiality of persons and households. Any attempt to ascertain the identity of a person, family, household, dwelling, organization, business or other entity from the microdata is strictly prohibited. Alleging that a person or any other entity has been identified in these data is also prohibited.
- Security
. Users will implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to [nationality] microdata acquired from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International or its partners.
- Publication
. The publishing of data and analysis resulting from research using microdata of [Country X] is permitted in communications such as scholarly papers, journals and the like. The authors of these communications are required to cite Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International and [the Statistical Bureau of Country X] as the sources of the microdata, and to indicate that the results and views expressed are those of the author/user.
- Sharing
. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series International will provide electronic copies to the Statistical Bureau of Country X of documentation and data related to its integrated microdata as well as timely reports of authorized users.
- Violations
. Violation of this agreement by a user may lead to professional censure and civil prosecution.
- Jurisdiction
. Disagreements which may arise shall be settled by means of conciliation, transaction and friendly composition. Should a settlement by these means prove impossible, a Tribunal of Settlement shall be convened which will rule upon the matter under law. This Tribunal shall be composed of an (1) arbitrator, which shall be elected by lot from the list of Arbitrators of the Chamber of Commerce of Paris. This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, generally accepted principles of International Law.
- Other
. Additional stipulations, if any, required by the Statistical Bureau of Country X may be inserted here or above, as desired.
Date: ________________________________________
Signed: ________________________________________
Regents of the University of Minnesota
By: Edward F. Wink
Associate Vice President, Sponsored Projects Administration
Rev. October 23, 2001