Article 4 DSM Directive


Task & Finish Group Logo
The ‘Article 4’ Task & Finish Group is a technically oriented group that has developed recommendations for the STM membership on common and consistent ways to implement the DSM’s Article 4 requirements so as to ensure that content is protected from unwanted commercial use for Text and Data Mining (TDM) purposes, as described in the legislation. The group builds on the work done on the TDMrep protocol in the context of the W3C community group.

Context and problem statement

Art. 4 of the EU 2019 Directive for Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DSM Directive) governs text and data mining (TDM) for commercial purposes. It uses a broad definition of TDM that can be interpreted in a way that is relevant in the context of AI technology. This requires rightsholders to express clearly what usages are (and are not) possible with their content.

Robust human- and machine-readable policy indicators are needed to ensure that commercial content collectors and processes can recognize that some or all of the content they have lawful access to (via subscription or open access) may be protected

Guidelines for TDM rights reservation

Please access below our recommendations for rights reservation mechanisms.

Access the technical summary here

Status

This Task & Finish Group is currently active.

Meet the members of the Task & Finish Group

  • American Chemical Society (Chair)
  • American Psychological Association
  • Atypon
  • Elsevier
  • Highwire
  • IEEE
  • JAMA
  • Springer Nature
  • Taylor & Francis

The Latest from STM

VIEW ALL Events Sponsor Opportunities

Oct 13

link to event

STM Dinner & Conference 2025 | Frankfurt

The Invisible Bridge The role of publishers in science diplomacy Science diplomacy often makes headlines through summits and treaties. But beneath formal diplomacy lies a stable, long-standing force for international collaboration: the global research publishing system.   Publishing does more than disseminate findings. It builds common ground. It enables scientists to co-author, critique, and iterate—even when...

Oct 23

link to event

Non-traditional roles in scholarly publishing – Stepping outside the editorial office

Join us for an exciting conversation with three experts from the consulting and research integrity sectors of scholarly publishing. Hosted by the STM Early Career Professionals Committee (STM ECPC), this panel will explore the diverse and evolving career pathways within the industry, offering early career professionals a glimpse into the different pathways they can take...

Nov 03

link to event

STM Social Responsibility Knowledge Sharing Session – Members only

We’re pleased to invite you to an STM Social Responsibility (members only) Knowledge Sharing Session —an informal and interactive event where you can: Learn about the STM Social Responsibility Committee’s vision and goals. Celebrate the impactful work of our Social Responsibility Task & Finish Groups through lightning talks and initiative showcases. Share your feedback and discover opportunities to get...

Dec 09

link to event

STM Innovation & Integrity Days 2025

Building Tomorrow’s Research Integrity Framework Join us in London for STM’s Innovation & Integrity Days (formerly known as STM Week) where we will explore the breakthroughs that are transforming scholarly communication — and delve deeply into the latest trends, approaches and innovations in research integrity. This two-day event will be held at the BMA House...

Apr 22

link to event

STM 2-day US Annual Conference 2026

Save the date! Helpful information See here for nearby restaurants See here for nearby bars & pubs See here for nearby hotels See here for the Dulles International Airport and terminal map See here for the National Press Club “visit us” link for parking and metro information