(1) "Cloud computing" refers to an approach for the dynamic and demand-driven provision, use, and billing of IT services via a network. These services are provided and used exclusively via defined technical interfaces and protocols.

(2) "Cloud service" means an information technology service offered within the framework of cloud computing. This includes, among other things, infrastructure (e.g., computing power, storage space), platforms, and software.

(3) “Third parties” include, but are not limited to, publishers, libraries, data archives, or research data repositories.

(4) “Research” refers to intellectual activity aimed at gaining new knowledge in a methodical, systematic, and verifiable manner.

(5) “AI system” means a machine-based system that is designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy and that may exhibit adaptiveness after deployment, and that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments.

(6) “Commercial interest” refers to the pursuit of direct or indirect economic benefit, i.e., with the intention of making a profit or initiating business.

(7) “Commercial use” means use for purposes with commercial interest.

(8) “Secure Data Center” refers to a Trusted Research Environment (TRE) at GESIS.

(9) “Student” refers to a person who is enrolled at a university or college and has not yet completed a doctorate.

(10) “Trusted Research Environment” refers to a computer environment that has been set up for research involving sensitive data and features integrated security controls and user access management functions.

(11) “Publication” means making something, such as research results, available to the public with the consent of the user. In the case of final theses such as bachelor's and master's theses, this means depositing the thesis with the relevant examination office and providing proof of this deposit.

(12) "Encryption" means a reversible transformation of data by a cryptographic algorithm to produce ciphertext, i.e., to hide the information content of the data.

(13) “Scientific use” means use for research purposes.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, GESIS makes the database available only for scientific use within the framework of a time-limited project. 

If you have any questions about the terms of use, e.g., regarding the availability of specific studies (access classes), please contact: 

Oliver Watteler, M.A., Tel. +49‐221‐ 47694‐418, oliver.watteler(at)gesis(dot)org 

The provision of the database is regulated by so-called access categories. The access categories are noted in the respective study descriptions. 
The following access categories exist:

Each provision of the database is done via password-protected online access or via a secure download server. Each time GESIS provides a database, the user must register and agree to these terms of use. The provision of some databases may require the user to agree to additional terms of use. 

The user may only process and use the database provided for the purpose specified by him / her for his / her own scientific research or for another purpose covered by the corresponding access class.

Unless expressly indicated otherwise, the user shall demonstrate scientific use by specifying a scientific question and a scientific methodology relevant to answering the question.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, commercial use of the data provided by GESIS is prohibited.

The user shall limit the use of the database to the extent necessary for the specified purpose of use.

The user must take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure that only the user has access to the database provided by GESIS.

The database may only be stored and processed on password-protected devices under the supervision of the user that are secured against external access.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the use of cloud services for storing the database is permitted. The database must be encrypted for storage in a cloud.

The provision of the database to third parties is not permitted.

The use of AI systems for processing the database provided to the user by GESIS is prohibited. In cases where the user has control (sole disposal and responsibility) over the AI system and the AI system is used exclusively for scientific purposes, exceptions may be granted by GESIS upon request in individual cases. Contact: Oliver Watteler (oliver.watteler(at)gesis(dot)org)

If more than one person plans to use the database, each person must agree to the terms of use. Only after agreeing to the terms of use and providing proof of this to GESIS may the person use the database.

The user shall observe any third-party rights to the database and shall not infringe upon these rights. Use is limited in particular to that permitted under copyright, trademark, and patent law.

The user undertakes to observe other property rights of persons.

Upon fulfillment of the purpose of use (e.g., completion of the project or personal withdrawal from the project) or upon termination of the right of use, the user undertakes to completely delete the database provided as well as any backup copies, auxiliary files, backups, modified copies, and extract files created by him/her. Any further use of the database, in particular of any modified data, is prohibited.

The user undertakes to refer to this data as a reference source, including the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) provided by GESIS, in the event of publications or other works (e.g., master's theses, working papers, etc.) in which the provided database is used. The user is also obligated to indicate the version of the data sets used in all such works. Corresponding guidelines for citing the data and data documentation can be found on the GESIS website.

The citation is formed from:

[Primary researcher] ([Year of publication]): [Title]. [Collector]. GESIS, Cologne. [Study number] Data file version [Version number], [DOI].

Detailed information on citing the database can be found in the study description.

The user shall make the results of the scientific use transparent after completion of the use and publish the results.

The user must notify GESIS of the publication. Contact: dataservices@gesis.org 

In the event of a violation of a term of use, the user shall immediately inform GESIS in writing (dataservices@gesis.org).

The user is liable for all damages resulting from his/her culpable use of the database in a manner that is not in accordance with the agreement, impermissible, or incorrect. The user indemnifies GESIS against any liability for claims asserted against GESIS by third parties due to the user's culpable, unauthorized use of the database. This also includes the costs of a reasonable legal defense.

In the event of a culpable breach of an obligation under this agreement, the user's right of use shall expire, and the user shall be permanently excluded from using the database. In this case, the user must completely destroy the database and any backup copies, auxiliary files, backups, modified copies, and excerpt files created by him/her and immediately notify GESIS of their deletion in writing (e-mail address: dataservices@gesis.org).

GESIS reserves the right to report culpable violations to other research data and service centers and to the German Data Forum. The user shall pay GESIS a contractual penalty of €10,000 (ten thousand euros) for each case of culpable violation of the conditions specified in sections 4, 5, or 6. GESIS's right to claim any additional damages resulting from the violation remains unaffected. In this case, any contractual penalty already paid for the respective violation will be offset against the damages.

GESIS does not guarantee the accuracy of the database content or the suitability of the database for the user's intended purpose, in particular the specified purpose of use. 

GESIS accepts no responsibility for the user's planned analysis, the method used for the analysis, or the interpretation of the content of the database. 

GESIS shall only be liable for intentional or grossly negligent acts. However, the above limitations of liability shall not apply to liability for injury to life, limb, or health, for fraudulent concealment of a defect, or in the event that GESIS has assumed a guarantee or liability under the Product Liability Act. In the event of a breach of essential contractual obligations, GESIS shall also be liable for slight negligence. Essential contractual obligations (so-called cardinal obligations) are understood to be those obligations that enable the proper execution of this contract and on whose fulfillment the applicant may rely. 

If GESIS breaches essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligations), the obligation to pay compensation shall be limited to the foreseeable damage typical for this type of contract.

German law shall apply exclusively.

The exclusive place of jurisdiction is Mannheim.

The possible invalidity or unenforceability of individual terms of use shall not affect the validity of the remaining terms of use. In this case, GESIS and the user agree to replace the invalid or unenforceable term of use with a valid and enforceable provision that corresponds as closely as possible to the meaning and purpose of the term of use to be replaced; the same applies to any gaps in the terms of use. 

Upon the user's acceptance of the Terms of Use, all previous agreements or arrangements between GESIS and the user relating to the content of these Terms of Use shall cease to be valid. 

Neither GESIS nor the user is entitled to transfer rights or obligations arising from this contract to third parties without the written consent of the other party.

(This translation serves information purposes only. Only the German version is legally binding.)