The minimum duration for which a specified dataset will be retained after project end, expressed as a calendar period and recorded as part of the DMP's preservation commitments.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board

· Last updated 21 May 2026

Examples

Worked examples

Is an instance
A retention period of 10 years recorded against an open dataset.
Is an instance
A retention period of 'until consent withdrawn or 25 years, whichever is shorter' on a clinical dataset.

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

Not an instance
No retention statement at all.
Not an instance
A storage allocation note that does not specify duration.

Editorial commentary

Retention periods reflect funder policy (e.g., UKRI 'at least 10 years'), legal obligation (e.g., GDPR processing-purpose limits, clinical-trial regulations), and disciplinary norms (longitudinal cohorts may require indefinite retention). In maDMPs, retention is recorded against each dataset rather than the plan as a whole.

References

UKRI Common Principles on Data Policy; GDPR Article 5(1)(e); MHRA / FDA clinical-trial record-retention requirements.

Also known as

DMP retention · data retention period

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element

xml

<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="Retention period (in DMP)"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/retention-period-in-dmp" />

Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)

json

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "DefinedTerm",
  "@id": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/retention-period-in-dmp",
  "name": "Retention period (in DMP)",
  "identifier": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/retention-period-in-dmp",
  "description": "The minimum duration for which a specified dataset will be retained after project end, expressed as a calendar period and recorded as part of the DMP's preservation commitments.",
  "inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/machine-actionable-dmps#set",
  "url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/retention-period-in-dmp",
  "sameAs": [
    "DMP retention",
    "data retention period"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "publisher": {
    "@id": "https://casrai.org/#organization"
  },
  "dateModified": "2026-05-21T02:22:49",
  "inLanguage": "en"
}

Referenced across the research world

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