Do I need to enter into a deposit agreement?

Yes.

The Deposit Agreement for the General Archive is as follows:

For ICPSR to archive and distribute this data collection, we require an electronic signature attesting to the following statements:

1. I have all rights needed to make this Data Collection publicly available through ICPSR.
2. I give my permission for the Data Collection to be used by ICPSR for the following purposes, without limitation:
   • To re-disseminate copies of the Data Collection in a variety of media formats.
   • To promote and advertise the Data Collection in any publicity (in any form) for ICPSR.
   • To describe, catalog, validate, and document the Data Collection.
   • To store, translate, copy, or reformat the Data Collection in any way to ensure its future preservation and accessibility.
   • To incorporate metadata or documentation in the Data Collection into public access catalogs.
3. I give my permission to ICPSR to enhance, transform, and/or rearrange the Data Collection, including the data and metadata, for any of the following purposes:
   • Protect respondent confidentiality
   • Improve usability
4. I have prepared this data collection for archiving and distribution in a manner consistent with the study participants’ consent and the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, if applicable.
5. I further agree to release and hold harmless ICPSR (including staff and the ICPSR Council) and the University of Michigan from any and all liability from claims arising out of any legal action concerning the identification of research subjects, breaches of confidentiality, or invasions of privacy by or on behalf of said subjects.

For openICPSR, the Deposit Agreement reads:

I understand that, by depositing data into ICPSR, I agree to the following:

1. I, hereby, irrevocably authorize the Regents of the University of Michigan (the "University"), on behalf of ICPSR, a non-exclusive license, in perpetuity, to use the deposited data for the following purposes, without limitation:
   • To disseminate copies of the Data Collection in a variety of media formats.
   • To promote and advertise the Data Collection in any publicity (in any form) for ICPSR.
   • To describe, catalog, validate, and document the Data Collection.
   • To store, translate, copy, or reformat the Data Collection in any way to ensure its future security, preservation, and accessibility.
   • To incorporate metadata or documentation in the Data Collection into public access catalogs.
   • To enhance, transform, rearrange, or restrict data and metadata to protect respondent confidentiality or improve usability.
2. I, hereby, authorize the University to allow others to make uses consistent with these terms.
3. I warrant that I have the right to agree to these terms and accept full responsibility for the authorizations I am agreeing to herein.
4. I have prepared this data collection for archiving and distribution in a manner consistent with the consent of the study participants and the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, if applicable.
5. I assert that all research subjects (living persons or active organizations) whose information is represented in this Data Collection have consented to share these data appropriately and/or I have institutional approval to share these data (e.g., waiver of consent from your IRB).