What is the legal framework of the LDS?

As outlined in the Data Spaces Blueprint Version 0.5 from the Data Spaces Support Center (DSSC), regulatory compliance and contractual framework establishment are essential for ensuring the legal integrity of the Data Spaces. The approach pursued in the LDS project encompasses a comprehensive legal scheme addressing a spectrum of data-related legislation, including the Data Governance Act, the Data Act and the upcoming AI Act.

Primarily, in light of the extensive personal data processed within language datasets and in the course of exchange operations, adherence to the EU's data protection regulations is non-negotiable. LDS' primary objective lies in consolidating this data protection framework through the implementation of dedicated tools. In this respect, the Language Data Connector aligns with data protection by design and by default, as it is based on the idea that the data owners keep their data on their servers and only make it available under their own conditions. This implies robust security measures, meticulous access rights management and data anonymisation or pseudonymisation where necessary.

The domain of intellectual property rights is intrinsically complex, particularly regarding ownership and copyright of language models trained on extensive data corpora. Clarity on ownership, licensing agreements and pertinent exceptions, such as the Text and Data Mining Exception in the Copyright Directive, is imperative to mitigate legal risks.

Moreover, the cross-border dimension of language data introduces additional legal intricacies. Differences between national regulatory frameworks entail a nuanced compliance approach and require expert navigation through different legislations. These challenges are integral to both LDS governance and its technical tasks.

By prioritising transparency, accountability, and adherence to legal requirements, LDS stakeholders will be able to confidently navigate the legal landscape, fostering responsible data usage and innovation.