The Hubble data information management structure reminds me of the Dilbert character Mordac, Preventer of Information Services:
http://dilbert.com/strips/?CharIDs=15&After=01/01/1996&Before=08/20/2008&Order=s.DateStrip+DESC&PerPage=50&x=23&y=9&CharFilter=Any A lot of that goes on in industry. In science, the academic journals play this role. They charge libraries and the public tens of thousands of dollars for access research that the public already paid for, in Federal grants. Lately, the Congress has been looking into this. In my opinion, all research done with public money should be made available on the Internet for free the moment it is published. - Jed
