Archives have fought many battles establishing their presence in the research world; they are welcomed by academics and policy makers in their quest to ask new questions of existing data; yet tread on uncertain ground for data creators and government departments, where concerns of disclosure and anxiety associated with statistical comparisons can loom high.nbsp; The UK Data Archive (UKDA) celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2007 four decades of acquiring and sharing key social and economic data. This paper will outline its position within the UK research arena discussing how, by establishing a tiered licensing model, the UKDA has ensured that the concerns of the depositors, data creators and the needs of its user communities are sated. Two major issues will be discussed: the need for establishing networks and relationships of trust and symbiosis; and building and nurturing expertise and support required to establish a workable legal framework under which data curation and sharing can operate.