Legal features of definition of databases for their free use

The article examines the normative concept of databases, as well as their differentiation from other materials. Particular attention is paid to the controversy about the attribution to big data databases, the consequences of such an action and the prospects for the development of civil legislation. The author assesses the legal definition of databases with regard to its completeness and compliance with modern legal realities. Besides, the author touches upon the importance of determining the content of databases, criteria for their free use by citizens for non-commercial purposes. It is suggested to expand the possibilities of free use of databases beyond personal purposes. An attempt is made to determine the balance between copyright protection and society's need for free use of databases, especially in the context of digitalization, when copying and use of significant amounts of data is becoming more and more accessible. The study emphasizes the importance of enabling society to use information from databases to facilitate search and access to knowledge, especially when such databases become the main sources of information in a particular field.