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An embargo is a temporary access restriction placed on metadata or bitstreams (i.e. files). Its scope or duration may vary, but the fact that it eventually expires is what distinguishes it from other content restrictions.For example, it is not unusual for content destined for DSpace to come with permanent restrictions on use or access based on license-driven or other IP-based requirements that limit access to institutionally affiliated users. Restrictions such as these are imposed and managed using standard administrative tools in DSpace, typically by attaching specific access policies (aka "resource policies") to Items, Collections, Bitstreams, etc.

Embargo functionality was originally introduced as part of DSpace 1.6, enabling embargoes on the level of items that applied to all bitstreams included in the item. In Since DSpace 3.0, this functionality has been extended for to the XML Submission User Interface, enabling embargoes on the level of individual bitstreams.

DSpace

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Embargo Functionality

Embargoes can be applied per item (including metadata) and per bitstream (i.e. file). The item level embargo will be the default for every bitstream, although it could be customized at bitstream level.

As a DSpace administrator, you can choose to integrate either Simple or Advanced dialog screens as part of the item submission process. These are outlined in detail in the sections Simple Embargo Settings and Advanced Embargo Settings.

This preference is stored in the dspace.cfg value webui.submission.restrictstep.enableAdvancedForm.  If not set, the default is for Simple Embargo.

On the level of an individual item, a new Private/Public state has been introducted to control the visibility of item metadata in the different indexes serving the DSpace web interface (search, browse, discovery), as well as machine interfaces (REST-API, OAI-PMH, …)

The following functionality has been added in DSpace 3.0:

• Browse private items
• Submission Process
  • Simple/Advanced Access Step
  • Upload with embargo step
• Edit Item
  • Make it Private
  • Make it Public

The following functionality has been modified in DSpace 3.0:

• Edit Item
• Edit Bitstream
• Wildcard Policy Admin Tool

Configuring and using Embargo in DSpace 3.0+

Introduction

The following sections describe the steps needed to configure and use the new Embargo functionality in DSpace.

Note: when the embargo will be set at item level or bitstream level a new ResourcePolicy will be added.

dspace.cfg

As already mentioned the user will be given the opportunity to choose between:

When an embargo is set on either an item level or a bitstream level, a new ResourcePolicy (i.e. access policy) is added to the corresponding Item or Bitstream. This ResourcePolicy will automatically control the lifting of the embargo (when the embargo date passes). An embargo lift date is generally stored as the "start date" of such a policy. Essentially, this means that the access rights defined in the policy do not get applied until after that date passes (and prior to that date, the access rights will default to Admin only).

The scheduled, manual "embargo-lifter" commands (used prior to DSpace 3) are no longer necessary and not recommended to run.

Administrators are able to change the lift date of any embargo by editing the policy (ResourcePolicy) on the object. These policies can be managed from the Edit Item screens.

Configuring and using Embargo in DSpace Submission User Interface

Introduction

The following sections describe the steps needed to configure and use Embargo functionality in the DSpace Submission User Interface.

As a DSpace administrator, you may choose to integrate either Simple or Advanced Embargo as part of the item submission process in the user interface. These are outlined in detail in the sections Simple Embargo Settings and Advanced Embargo Settings.

This preference is stored in the dspace.cfg value webui.submission.restrictstep.enableAdvancedForm.  If not set, the default is for Simple Embargo.

On the level of an individual item, a new Private/Public state has been introduced to control the visibility of item metadata in the different indexes serving the DSpace web interface (search, browse, discovery), as well as machine interfaces (REST-API, OAI-PMH, …)

Configuring the Embargo UI

As already mentioned the user will be given the opportunity to choose between:

• Simple Embargo Simple Embargo Settings
• Advanced Embargo Settings

To switch between the two, you need to set following variable in the dspace.cfg file (or your local.cfg, see Configuration Reference). A value of false (the default) enables the simple Simple settings while a value of true enables the advanced Advanced settings.

webui.submission.restrictstep.enableAdvancedForm=false

Submission Process

item-submission.xml

Submission Process

item-submission.xml

To enable the embargoTo enable the new embargo, changes are required to the item-submission.xml file, located in your [dspace]/config/ directory. This file determines which steps are executed in the submission of a new item (see also Submission User Interface).

Two new submission steps have been introduced in the file. By default, they are not activated yet:

• AccessStep: the step in which the user can set the embargo at item level, effectively restricting access to the item metadata.
• UploadWithEmbargoStep: the step in which the user can set the embargo at bitstream level. If this step is enabled, the old UploadStep must be disabled.  Leaving both steps enabled will result in a system failure.

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<!--Step 3 will be to Manage Item access.
       <step>
           <heading>submit.progressbar.access</heading>
           <processing-class>org.dspace.submit.step.AccessStep</processing-class>
           <jspui-binding>org.dspace.app.webui.submit.step.JSPAccessStep</jspui-binding>
           <xmlui-binding>org.dspace.app.xmlui.aspect.submission.submit.AccessStep</xmlui-binding>
           <workflow-editable>true</workflow-editable>
       </step>
       -->

<!-- Step 4 Upload Item with Embargo Features (not supported in JSPUI)
            to enable this step, please make sure to comment-out the previous step "UploadStep"
       <step>
           <heading>submit.progressbar.upload</heading>
           <processing-class>org.dspace.submit.step.UploadWithEmbargoStep</processing-class>
           <jspui-binding>org.dspace.app.webui.submit.step.JSPUploadWithEmbargoStep</jspui-binding>
		   <xmlui-binding>org.dspace.app.xmlui.aspect.submission.submit.UploadWithEmbargoStep</xmlui-binding>
           <workflow-editable>true</workflow-editable>
       </step>
        -->

To enable the new Embargo, ensure that the new steps are uncommented and the old UploadStep is commented out.

Simple Embargo Settings

Using the simple embargo settings, submitters will be able to define embargoes bound to specific dates, that are applied to all anonymous and default read access. To keep the interface simple, options to apply embargoes for particular groups of DSpace users are not shown. The simple embargo settings interface assumes that embargoes always start immediately upon submission, so only end dates are configurable.

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Pre-3.0 Embargo Migration Routine

A migration routine has been developed to migrate the current Embargo to the new one.

To execute it, run the following command:

./dspace migrate-embargo -a

Technical Specifications

Introduction

The following sections illustrate the technical changes that have been made to the back-end to add the new Advanced Embargo functionality.

ResourcePolicy

When an embargo is set at item level or bitstream level, a new ResourcePolicy will be added.

Three new attributes have been introduced in the ResourcePolicy class:

• rpname: resource policy name
• rptype: resource policy type
• rpdescription: resource policy description

While rpname and rpdescription are fields manageable by users, the rptype is managed by DSpace itself. It represents a type that a resource policy can assume, among the following:

If you have just upgraded from a DSpace 1.x.x version, any embargoes that are currently "in effect" will need to be migrated into ResourcePolicies. Prior to 3.0, embargoes in DSpace were managed entirely in metadata fields (and required running a scheduled "embargo-lifter" command).  However, DSpace now stores all embargo information directly on ResourcePolicies (i.e. "access policies").  These ResourcePolicies automatically "lift" an embargo after the embargo date passes.

In order to migrate old embargoes into ResourcePolicies, a migration routine has been developed.  Please note that this migration routine should only need to be run ONCE (immediately after an upgrade from 1.x.x to a more recent version of DSpace).  After that point, any newly defined embargoes will automatically be stored on ResourcePolicies.

To execute it, run the following command:

[dspace]/bin/dspace migrate-embargo -a

Technical Specifications

Introduction

The following sections illustrate the technical changes that have been made to the back-end to add the new Advanced Embargo functionality.

ResourcePolicy

When an embargo is set at item level or bitstream level, a new ResourcePolicy will be added.

Three new attributes have been introduced in the ResourcePolicy class:

• rpname: resource policy name
• rptype: resource policy type
• rpdescription: resource policy description

While rpname and rpdescription are fields manageable by users, the rptype is managed by DSpace itself. It represents a type that a resource policy can assume, among the following:

• TYPE_SUBMISSION: all the policies added automatically during the submission process
• TYPE_WORKFLOW: all
• TYPE_SUBMISSION: all the policies added automatically during the submission process
• TYPE_WORKFLOW: all the policies added automatically during the workflow stage
• TYPE_CUSTOM: all the custom policies added by users
• TYPE_INHERITED: all the policies inherited from the enclosing object (for Item, a Collection; for Bitstream, an Item).

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Withdraw Item

The feature to withdraw an item from the repository has been modified to keep all the custom policies in place.

Reinstate Item

The feature to reinstate an item in the repository has been modified to preserve existing custom policies.

Pre-DSpace 3.0 Embargo Compatibility

The Pre-DSpace 3.0 embargo functionality (see below) has been modified to adjust the policies setter and lifter. These classes now also set the dates within the policy objects themselves in addition to setting the date in the item metadata.

Pre-DSpace 3.0 Embargo

Embargo model and life-cycle

Functionally, the embargo system allows you to attach "terms" to an item before it is placed into the repository, which express how the embargo should be applied. What do we mean by "terms" here? They are really any expression that the system is capable of turning into (1) the time the embargo expires, and (2) a concrete set of access restrictions. Some examples:

"2020-09-12" - an absolute date (i.e. the date embargo will be lifted)
"6 months" - a time relative to when the item is accessioned
"forever" - an indefinite, or open-ended embargo
"local only until 2015" - both a time and an exception (public has no access until 2015, local users OK immediately)
"Nature Publishing Group standard" - look-up to a policy somewhere (typically 6 months)

These terms are interpreted by the embargo system to yield a specific date on which the embargo can be removed (or "lifted"), and a specific set of access policies. Obviously, some terms are easier to interpret than others (the absolute date really requires none at all), and the default embargo logic understands only the most basic terms (the first and third examples above). But as we will see below, the embargo system provides you with the ability to add your own interpreters to cope with any terms expressions you wish to have. This date that is the result of the interpretation is stored with the item.  The embargo system detects when that date has passed, and removes the embargo ("lifts it"), so the item bitstreams become available. Here is a more detailed life-cycle for an embargoed item:

Terms assignment

The first step in placing an embargo on an item is to attach (assign) "terms" to it.  If these terms are missing, no embargo will be imposed. As we will see below, terms are carried in a configurable DSpace metadata field, so assigning terms just means assigning a value to a metadata field. This can be done in a web submission user interface form, in a SWORD deposit package, a batch import, etc. - anywhere metadata is passed to DSpace. The terms are not immediately acted upon, and may be revised, corrected, removed, etc, up until the next stage of the life-cycle. Thus a submitter could enter one value, and a collection editor replace it, and only the last value will be used. Since metadata fields are multivalued, theoretically there can be multiple terms values, but in the default implementation only one is recognized.

Terms interpretation/imposition

In DSpace terminology, when an Item has exited the last of any workflow steps (or if none have been defined for it), it is said to be "installed" into the repository. At this precise time, the interpretation of the terms occurs, and a computed "lift date" is assigned, which like the terms is recorded in a configurable metadata field. It is important to understand that this interpretation happens only once, (just like the installation), and cannot be revisited later. Thus, although an administrator can assign a new value to the metadata field holding the terms after the item has been installed, this will have no effect on the embargo, whose "force" now resides entirely in the "lift date" value. For this reason, you cannot embargo content already in your repository (at least using standard tools). The other action taken at installation time is the actual imposition of the embargo. The default behavior here is simply to remove the read policies on all the bundles and bitstreams except for the "LICENSE" or "METADATA" bundles. See the Extending embargo functionality section below for how to alter this behavior. Also note that since these policy changes occur before installation, there is no time during which embargoed content is "exposed" (accessible by non-administrators). The terms interpretation and imposition together are called "setting" the embargo, and the component that performs them both is called the embargo "setter".

Embargo period

After an embargoed item has been installed, the policy restrictions remain in effect until removed. This is not an automatic process, however: a "lifter" must be run periodically to look for items whose "lift date" has passed. Note that this means the effective removal of an embargo does not occur on the lift date, but on the earliest date after the lift date that the lifter is run. Typically, a nightly cron-scheduled invocation of the lifter is more than adequate, given the granularity of embargo terms. Also note that during the embargo period, all metadata of the item remains visible.This default behavior can be changed. One final point to note is that the "lift date", although it was computed and assigned during the previous stage, is in the end a regular metadata field. That means, if there are extraordinary circumstances that require an administrator (or collection editor - anyone with edit permissions on metadata) to change the lift date, this can be done. Thus, one can "revise" the lift date without reference to the original terms. This date will be checked the next time the "lifter" is run. One could immediately lift the embargo by setting the lift date to the current day, or change it to "forever" to indefinitely postpone lifting.

Embargo lift

When the lifter discovers an item whose lift date is in the past, it removes ("lifts") the embargo. The default behavior of the lifter is to add the resource policies that would have been added had the embargo not been imposed. That is, it replicates the standard DSpace behavior, in which an item inherits its policies from its owning collection. As with all other parts of the embargo system, you may replace or extend the default behavior of the lifter (see Extending embargo functionality below). You may wish, e.g., to send an email to an administrator or other interested parties when an embargoed item becomes available.

Post embargo

After the embargo has been lifted, the item ceases to respond to any of the embargo life-cycle events. The values of the metadata fields reflect essentially historical or provenance values. With the exception of the additional metadata fields, the item is indistinguishable from items that were never subject to embargo.

an item from the repository has been modified to keep all the custom policies in place.

Reinstate Item

The feature to reinstate an item in the repository has been modified to preserve existing custom policies.

Pre-DSpace 3.0 Embargo Compatibility

The Pre-DSpace 3.0 embargo functionality (see below) has been modified to adjust the policies setter and lifter. These classes now also set the dates within the policy objects themselves in addition to setting the date in the item metadata.

Creating Embargoes via Metadata

Introduction

Prior to DSpace 3.0, all DSpace embargoes were stored as metadata.  While embargoes are no longer stored permanently in metadata fields (they are now stored on ResourcePolicies, i.e. access policies), embargoes can still be initialized via metadata fields.  

This ability to create/initialize embargoes via metadata is extremely powerful if you wish to submit embargoed content via electronic means (such as Importing Items via Simple Archive Format, SWORDv1, SWORDv2, etc).

Setting Embargo terms via metadata

Functionally, the embargo system allows you to attach "terms" to an item before it is placed into the repository, which express how the embargo should be applied. What do we mean by "terms" here? They are really any expression that the system is capable of turning into (1) the time the embargo expires, and (2) a concrete set of access restrictions. Some examples:

"2020-09-12" - an absolute date (i.e. the date embargo will be lifted)
"6 months" - a time relative to when the item is accessioned
"forever" - an indefinite, or open-ended embargo
"local only until 2015" - both a time and an exception (public has no access until 2015, local users OK immediately)
"Nature Publishing Group standard" - look-up to a policy somewhere (typically 6 months)

These terms are interpreted by the embargo system to yield a specific date on which the embargo can be removed (or "lifted"), and a specific set of access policies. Obviously, some terms are easier to interpret than others (the absolute date really requires none at all), and the default embargo logic understands only the most basic terms (the first and third examples above). But as we will see below, the embargo system provides you with the ability to add your own interpreters to cope with any terms expressions you wish to have. This date that is the result of the interpretation is stored with the item.  The embargo system detects when that date has passed, and removes the embargo ("lifts it"), so the item bitstreams become available. Here is a more detailed life-cycle for an embargoed item:

Terms assignment

The first step in placing an embargo on an item is to attach (assign) "terms" to it.  If these terms are missing, no embargo will be imposed. As we will see below, terms are carried in a configurable DSpace metadata field, so assigning terms just means assigning a value to a metadata field. This can be done in a web submission user interface form, in a SWORD deposit package, a batch import, etc. - anywhere metadata is passed to DSpace. The terms are not immediately acted upon, and may be revised, corrected, removed, etc, up until the next stage of the life-cycle. Thus a submitter could enter one value, and a collection editor replace it, and only the last value will be used. Since metadata fields are multivalued, theoretically there can be multiple terms values, but in the default implementation only one is recognized.

Terms interpretation/imposition

In DSpace terminology, when an Item has exited the last of any workflow steps (or if none have been defined for it), it is said to be "installed" into the repository. At this precise time, the interpretation of the terms occurs, and a computed "lift date" is assigned, and recorded as part of the ResourcePolicy (aka policy) of the Item. Once the lift date has been assigned to the ResourcePolicy, the metadata field which defined the embargo is cleared.  From that point forward, all embargo information is controlled/defined by the ResourcePolicy.

It is important to understand that this interpretation happens only once, (just like the installation). Therefore, updating/changing an embargo cannot be done via metadata fields. Instead, all embargo updates must be made to the ResourcePolicies themselves (e.g. ResourcePolicies can be managed from the Admin UI in the Edit Item screens).

Also note that since these policy changes occur before installation, there is no time during which embargoed content is "exposed" (accessible by non-administrators). The terms interpretation and imposition together are called "setting" the embargo, and the component that performs them both is called the embargo "setter".

Embargo period

After an embargoed item has been installed, the policy restrictions remain in effect until the embargo date passes.  Once the embargo date passes, the policy restrictions are automatically lifted.  An embargo lift date is generally stored as the "start date" of a policy. Essentially, this means that the policy does not get applied until after that date passes (and prior to that date, the object defaults to Admin only access).

Administrators are able to change the lift date of the embargo by editing the policy (ResourcePolicy). These policies can be managed from the Edit Item screens.

Configuration of metadata fields

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DSpace embargoes utilize standard metadata fields to hold both the "terms" and the "lift date". Which fields you use are configurable, and no specific metadata element is dedicated or pre-defined for use in embargo. Rather, you must specify exactly what field you want the embargo system to examine when it needs to find the terms or assign the lift date.

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1. Use a local metadata schema. Breaking compliance with the standard Dublin Core in the default metadata registry can create a problem for the portability of data to/from of your repository.
2. If using existing metadata fields, avoid any that are automatically managed by DSpace. For example, fields like "date.issued" or "date.accessioned" are normally automatically assigned, and thus must not be recruited for embargo use.
3. Do not place the field for "lift date" in submission screens. This can potentially confuse submitters because they may feel that they can directly assign values to it. As noted in the life-cycle above, this is erroneous: the lift date gets assigned by the embargo system based on the terms. Any pre-existing value will be over-written. But see next recommendation for an exception.
4. As the life-cycle discussion above makes clear, after the terms are applied, that field is no longer actionable in the embargo system. Conversely, the "lift date" field is not actionable until the application. Thus you may want to consider configuring both the "terms" and "lift date" to use the same metadata field. In this way, during workflow you would see only the terms, and after item installation, only the lift date. If you wish the metadata to retain the terms for any resaonreason, use 2 distinct fields instead.

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After the fields defined for terms and lift date have been assigned in dspace.cfg, and created and configured wherever they will be used, you can begin to embargo items simply by entering data (dates, if using the default setter) in the terms field. They will automatically be embargoed as they exit workflow. For the embargo to be lifted on any item, however, a new administrative procedure must be added: the "embargo lifter" must be invoked on a regular basis. This task examines all embargoed items, and if their "lift date" has passed, it removes the access restrictions on the item. Good practice dictates automating this procedure using cron jobs or the like, rather than manually running it.
The lifter is available as a target of the 1.6 DSpace launcher - see launcher documentation for details.they will be used, you can begin to embargo items simply by entering data (dates, if using the default setter) in the terms field. They will automatically be embargoed as they exit workflow, and that the computed lift date will be stored on the ResourcePolicy

Extending embargo functionality

The 1.6 embargo system supplies a default "interpreter/imposition" class (the "Setter") as well as a "Lifter", but they are fairly rudimentary in several respects"Setter") .

Setter

The default setter recognizes only two expressions of terms: either a literal, non-relative date in the fixed format "yyyy-mm-dd" (known as ISO 8601), or a special string used for open-ended embargo (the default configured value for this is "forever", but this can be changed in dspace.cfg to "toujours", "unendlich", etc). It will perform a minimal sanity check that the date is not in the past. Similarly, the default setter will only remove all read policies as noted above, rather than applying more nuanced rules (e.g allow access to certain IP groups, deny the rest). Fortunately, the setter class itself is configurable and you can "plug in" any behavior you like, provided it is written in java and conforms to the setter interface. The dspace.cfg property:

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controls which setter to use.

Lifter

The default lifter behavior as described above - essentially applying the collection policy rules to the item - might also not be sufficient for all purposes. It also can be replaced with another class:

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