SBTi Sets Copyright and Liability Terms for 2023 Monitoring Data

The Science Based Targets initiative released its standard disclaimer for the 2023 Monitoring Report, outlining data accuracy limitations and permitted uses of the document. The notice restricts commercial reuse and repackaging of SBTi data without prior written authorisation.

The SBTi's disclaimer for its 2023 Monitoring Report affirms that the document is provided without warranty of accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose. Data collected from public sources passes through a quality assurance process, but the initiative acknowledges that errors are inherent given the scale of the exercise. The document is protected under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, permitting reproduction only in unaltered form for personal, non-commercial use.

The disclaimer underscores a broader challenge in corporate sustainability data governance: even widely-cited standards bodies caution users against treating their published metrics as verified facts. As regulators in India, the European Union and the United States incorporate SBTi data into mandatory disclosure frameworks, the quality and legal status of that underlying data is becoming a material concern for companies and their auditors.

The SBTi notes it continually works to enhance accuracy, quality and transparency of its data. Users wishing to cite or republish SBTi content must acknowledge the source and obtain express written permission for commercial repackaging. The initiative operates as a private company registered in England, number 14960097, and as a UK Charity, number 1205768, with governance structures that are continuing to evolve.

Key figure — UK Charity number 1205768