RDIM Terminology Retention Rules for Specific Data Types

Retention Rules for Specific Data Types

Research Data Type	Description	Retention Rules
Clinical Trials	Research data created in the conduct of clinical trials	Retain for 15 years after completion of clinical research/trial AND 10 years after last patient service provision or medico-legal action.
Other (does not result in patent)	Research data created in the conduct of research which does not fit into the other categories, which does not result in a patent.	Retain for 5 years after last action e.g., end of the year of publication of the last refereed publication
Other (results in patent)	Research data created in the conduct of research which does not fit into the other categories, which results in a patent.	Retain for 7 years after expiry of patent (i.e., a minimum of 27 years)
Significant	Research data created in the conduct of a research project, including clinical trials, which is of high public interest or significance to the discipline such that it has or will change a commonly held view or approach irrespective of the field in which the research is conducted. Factors which may determine significance include projects which: are controversial are the subject of extensive debate arouse widespread scientific or other interest have the potential to cause major adverse impacts on the environment, society or human health involve eminent researchers involve the use of major new or innovative techniques.	Retain significant data permanently Also consider whether the data: would be costly or impossible to reproduce has community, cultural or historical value has significant re-use potential Note: With rare exceptions, datasets published via Research Data JCU will be assigned a DOI. Your data is a citable part of the ‘scholarly record’ and the intention is to retain this research data for as long as feasible, regardless of the recommended retention period.