Dataset Licensing
Every dataset on the Data.co Marketplace is offered under its own license from its provider. This page explains how those licenses work, what Data.co does and does not grant, how AI and retrieval use is treated, and why public-domain government materials are treated differently from licensed or annotated content.
The provider's license governs.
Datasets on the Data.co Marketplace are supplied by data providers. Each dataset listing identifies its provider and its license terms (the "Dataset License"), including permitted uses, storage, attribution, AI use, and whether redistribution is allowed. The Dataset License governs your use of that dataset, whether you access it by REST API, MCP server, or download, and it binds you when you access the dataset.
LAW.co, an affiliated legal data platform, is the first provider on the Marketplace. Its datasets are offered under LAW.co's license terms as shown on each listing.
If a Dataset License conflicts with our Terms of Service on a question about the dataset's use, the Dataset License controls for that dataset. Our Terms and Acceptable Use Policy continue to govern your use of the Marketplace, API and MCP server.
Data.co does not assume redistribution rights.
Data.co distributes datasets on behalf of providers. Data.co does not acquire, assume, or grant rights beyond those the provider has granted in the Dataset License. If a license does not permit redistribution, sublicensing, or use in a commercial product, Data.co cannot grant that permission.
Providers represent to Data.co that they have the rights needed to license their datasets. Data.co does not independently verify every rights claim, and makes no warranty about datasets beyond what our Terms of Service state.
If you need rights beyond the listed license, contact the provider through the Marketplace or ask us to route your request.
Common license terms you will see on listings.
The listing states which terms apply. This table explains what each common term means; it does not add to or change any Dataset License.
| Term | What it typically means |
|---|---|
| Internal use | Use within your organization only, including in internal applications. No redistribution of the dataset or substantial parts of it. |
| Commercial product use | You may use the data to power a product or service you offer to others, typically without exposing the raw dataset in bulk. |
| Redistribution | Whether, and how much, you may pass the data itself to others. Often prohibited or limited to insubstantial excerpts. |
| Attribution required | You must credit the provider (and Data.co where stated) in the form the listing specifies wherever the data is displayed. |
| Storage and caching | Whether you may store copies, for how long, and whether you must refresh or delete them on a schedule. |
| Termination | Whether your rights to stored copies survive the end of your subscription, or whether copies must be deleted. |
| Public domain or open license | Underlying material that is free to use, or released under an open license such as a Creative Commons license whose terms are shown on the listing. |
Using datasets with AI systems.
Dataset Licenses distinguish between different AI uses. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) or grounding, where an AI system retrieves records at query time to answer a question, is different from training or fine-tuning, where data is used to change a model's weights. Some licenses permit one and not the other.
Accessing a dataset through our MCP server for use by an AI agent is retrieval use. Storing embeddings or vector indexes of a dataset is storage, subject to the license's storage terms. Training or fine-tuning a model on a dataset is permitted only where the Dataset License expressly allows it.
Where a dataset includes AI-generated enrichments, such as LAW.co's AI case summaries, they are labeled as machine-generated, carry their own provenance, and are not authority. If you show them to your users, keep that labeling.
Not all legal and government data is the same.
Underlying public-domain material can be free to use while a provider's compilation, enhancements, or annotations are licensed.
| Content type | Typical rights status | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. federal government works (for example, federal statutes and many federal agency documents) | Generally not subject to U.S. copyright | The underlying text may be used freely, but a provider's formatting, metadata, and delivery are covered by the Dataset License |
| State and local government materials | Varies by jurisdiction | Check the dataset listing; some states claim copyright in certain materials |
| Court opinions | Judicial opinions are generally not copyrightable | Headnotes, summaries, and editorial additions may be protected and licensed |
| Annotations, classifications, summaries, and enrichments | Provider's work product | Licensed under the Dataset License |
| Structured compilations and normalized datasets | May be protected as compilations or by contract | Licensed under the Dataset License |
Before using a dataset, check:
- The license shown on the dataset listing
- Whether your intended use, including AI training or retrieval, is permitted
- Attribution requirements and where they must appear
- Whether redistribution or sharing with affiliates is allowed
- Storage, retention and deletion obligations, including at the end of your subscription
- Any personal data in the dataset, such as names in public court records, and your own obligations under privacy and consumer reporting laws when you use it
- Whether the dataset is suitable for your purpose; datasets can contain errors and gaps, and court texts are not official or certified
How we handle claims about a dataset.
- 1
Submit a claim
Copyright claims follow our copyright policy. Other rights claims, such as contract, database right or privacy claims, can be sent through data.co/contact (topic "Other") identifying the dataset, the records concerned, and the basis of the claim.
- 2
Acknowledgment within 7 days
We acknowledge the claim and may ask for more information.
- 3
Provider review
We forward the claim to the provider, which is responsible for its dataset. We ask the provider to respond within 14 days.
- 4
Interim action
Where a claim appears valid on its face, or a court order requires it, we may suspend the affected records or the dataset from distribution while the claim is resolved.
- 5
Resolution within 30 days
We aim to resolve claims within 30 days of a complete claim, and tell the claimant and provider the outcome. If records are removed, licensees may be told to delete their copies where the Dataset License requires it.
Licensing questions.
For licensing questions, contact us through the contact form at data.co/contact, choosing the topic "Marketplace / data providers" or "Other". Providers interested in listing datasets can apply through the Marketplace.
Last updated: November 6, 2026.
Questions about these terms?
Contact us and we will route your question to the right person.