As robotic automation becomes increasingly connected and data‑driven, a question that once seemed secondary is now unavoidable:
Who actually owns the data generated by an industrial robot?
This is not a trivial issue. In many modern automation projects, operational data holds as much strategic value as the physical production itself.
What Data Does an Industrial Robot Generate?
Industrial robots continuously produce large volumes of information, including:
- cycle times
- system states
- alarms and warnings
- counters and usage metrics
- executed paths and programs
- stop events and error logs
These data points exist whether a company uses them or not.
However, their exploitation introduces legal, technical, and contractual considerations that should be defined from the outset.
General Rule: Production Data Belongs to the Company Operating the Robot
As a principle, production data belongs to the end user, meaning the company that operates the robotic cell.
The robot is a tool within the customer’s production process, and the information produced during its operation forms part of that process.
Neither the robot supplier nor the robot manufacturer automatically gains rights over this data simply by providing the equipment.
When Do Additional Rights Come Into Play?
This basic rule becomes more nuanced when additional digital services are involved.
Many manufacturers now offer:
- cloud‑based monitoring platforms
- remote diagnostics
- predictive maintenance
- advanced analytics
In these cases, some of the robot’s data may be transmitted outside the plant.
Ownership typically does not change, but rights of use, processing, storage, and access must be clearly defined in service agreements and contractual terms.
Supplier Perspective: Access Does Not Equal Ownership
From Eurobots’ perspective as an automation supplier, it is crucial to distinguish technical access from data ownership.
When Eurobots performs support, troubleshooting, or commissioning, it may need to access certain robot logs or records.
This does not imply ownership of the data.
It represents limited, purpose‑specific access, restricted exclusively to technical service.
Data Aggregation and Anonymization
Robot manufacturers may analyze aggregated, anonymized data to:
- improve products
- detect failure patterns
- enhance controller software
- optimize future designs
This does not mean accessing sensitive customer information.
Instead, it involves statistical data that cannot be traced back to a specific factory or process.
Transparency and contractual clarity are essential.
Where Confusion Often Comes From
Misunderstandings usually arise when companies lack a clear data governance strategy.
Robots are connected to external systems without defining:
- what data is shared
- with whom
- for what purpose
In that ambiguity, unfounded fears of losing control often surface, although the real issue is the absence of internal definitions.
Not All Data Has the Same Value
Critical production data — such as process parameters, cycle sequences, and internal timing — typically stays within the plant.
Data shared externally usually concerns:
- equipment status
- maintenance information
- general performance metrics
These are far less sensitive and often essential for service optimization.
Automation Doesn’t Change Data Ownership — It Reveals It
Robotization does not remove ownership from the customer.
It simply increases the volume and accessibility of operational data, forcing companies to adopt a more mature and structured approach to industrial information management.
In reality, robotic automation does not create a data‑ownership problem —
it makes visible a reality that always existed: production generates valuable information.
Defining who manages it, how it is used, and under what limits is a strategic decision of the company, not a decision imposed by the supplier or the manufacturer.
Key Insights on Data Ownership in Industrial Robotics