What does this mean?
To maximise data reuse, the protocol should be free (no-cost) and open (-sourced) and thus globally implementable to facilitate data retrieval. Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can access at least the metadata. Hence, this criterion will impact your choice of the repository where you will share your data.
Examples
- HTTP, FTP, SMTP, …
- Telephone (arguably not universally-implementable, but close enough)
- A counter-example would be Skype, which is not universally-implementable because it is proprietary
- Microsoft Exchange Server protocol is also proprietary
Links to Resources