Abstract
The development of information technology makes it possible to collect and analyse more and more data resources. The results of research, regardless of the discipline, constitute one of main sources of data. Currently, the research results are increasingly being published in the Open Access model. The Open Access concept has been accepted and recommended worldwide by many institutions financing and implementing research. Initially, the idea of openness concerned only the results of research and scientific publications; at present, more attention is paid to the problem of sharing scientific data, including raw data. Proceedings towards open data are intricate, as data specificity requires the development of an appropriate legal, technical and organizational model, followed by the implementation of data management policies at both the institutional and national levels. The aim of this publication was to present the development of the open data concept in the context of open access idea and problems related to defining data in the process of data sharing and data management.