# External data usage

**URL:** <https://community.drivendata.org/t/external-data-usage/697>\
**Category:** Senior Data Science: Safe Aging with SPHERE\
**Created:** [July 9, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.drivendata.org/t/external-data-usage/697 "2016-07-09T18:24:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dremovd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/community.drivendata.org/dremovd/32/423_2.png) [@dremovd](https://community.drivendata.org/u/dremovd)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.drivendata.org/t/external-data-usage/697/1 "2016-07-09T18:24:36Z")

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Hello!

It is OK to use publicly available external data by rules (as far as I understood).  
Do you think it is possible for such kind of contest?  
Did you find anything useful?

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**Author:** ![ntwomey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@ntwomey](https://community.drivendata.org/u/ntwomey)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://community.drivendata.org/t/external-data-usage/697/2 "2016-07-11T09:43:42Z")

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Hi dremovd,

It’s OK to use external data. It’s mentioned in the rules

> **[Senior Data Science: Safe Aging with SPHERE](https://www.drivendata.org/competitions/42/rules/)**
>
> Contribute to open, cutting-edge research on the use of wearables in promoting health and independence for seniors.

A few things to be aware of is that (duplicating from the rules):

1. publicly available to all competitors during the entire length of the competition
2. unencumbered by any usage costs, and
3. are disclosed at the end of the competition

Good luck!

Niall