The European Language Data Space (LDS) is designed as an ecosystem of organisations. Users who own language data and those who want to use language data can perform all actions related to their data assets and interact with other stakeholders within the platform in a secure way and in full compliance with EU laws and regulations.
The main component is the LDS connector. This small piece of software is installed on the users' systems and it enables the participation in the data space as well as the execution of all operations around data exchange, such as the publication, search, negotiation and transfer of data products.
What's new in v3.0.0
The LDS v3.0.0 release brings significant improvements across the infrastructure. Existing components such as the user dashboard, metadata editor, policy wizard and registry have been enhanced to offer a more tailored, intuitive, and comprehensive experience for all LDS user roles. Data lifecycle management, participant onboarding, and data discovery have been refined as well to better support the platform's growing user base.
In addition to these upgrades, LDS 3.0.0 introduces a range of new features that expand its capabilities and user accessibility:
A web-accessible Central Catalogue offers a preview of the datasets and models shared by all LDS participants, serving as access point to explore the LDS ecosystem. Participants can freely decide which of their offers will be included in the Central Catalogue.
Browse the LDS Central Catalogue
The LDS Central Catalogue as well as the LDS connector are now multilingual, offered in all EU official languages.
This demonstrator module simulates payment-gated access to data offerings. It enables creation and transfer of invoices and access to the data offering only upon payment confirmation, while all financial transactions are carried out outside the LDS system.
The creation of dataset and language model descriptions is facilitated with a set of APIs aimed at more advanced users, which allow batch import of metadata and integration with other systems, while less expert users will continue taking advantage of the existing editor UI description templates.
New data exchange protocols support modern data exchange mechanisms, like cloud infrastructures.
The LDS licensing framework has been reinforced with the introduction of the LDS standard licence template, which has been prepared by the LDS legal team and enables providers to take advantage of a ready-to-use licence while still retaining the potential to customise this to their preferences. At the same time, the LDS generic policy editor has been endowed with new features adding to its user-friendliness. Together with the import of policies and the assistance of the LDS helpdesk for legal issues, providers have at their disposition a set of legal tools that allow them to keep control over their data products.
NLP/AI services have been added as a new asset type that can be described and offered to consumers, although their use is currently blocked; the full integration of services is under construction and will be soon offered. As a preview to this, a prototype implementation exploiting services offered through the European Language Grid is available for demo purposes through restricted connectors.
A local logging and analytics module has been integrated in the LDS connector. This module can be used by both providers and consumers to get a deeper insight into the LDS transactions that interest them.
The Central Monitoring service (aka. Observer) has now been implemented. It can be accessed only by the LDS Governance Board members when LDS users file a complaint. The Observer keeps track of the transactions made between two connectors upon conclusion of an agreement between the two participants (provider and consumer).
How to get started
To apply for a participation in the LDS, the legal representative (or a delegated person) of an interested organisation fills in the application form and provides the necessary information to verify the eligibility of the organisation.
The LDS Governance Board will assess the application and approve or reject it in compliance with the governance framework.
Once the application is approved, the organisation will receive additional instructions on the technical procedure for accessing the LDS ecosystem and for the installation and configuration of the LDS connector.
Please note that only legal entities established in an EU member state are eligible to participate in the LDS marketplace. The data products to be offered must be under full ownership of (or include clear distribution rights to) the stakeholder who is publishing the offer.
We are happy to help!
The LDS user guide is organised in the form of a walkthrough, describing how to become a member of the LDS marketplace, how to install the required technical components and how to operate the LDS connector.
The LDS legal and technical helpdesks will support users during the testing phase and beyond and provide assistance for any questions or issues.
