The paper discusses the importance of metadata in accessing and sharing image data in the biological sciences, particularly in multidimensional microscopy. It highlights the challenges posed by proprietary file formats (PFFs) and advocates for the adoption of open, standardized data formats. The authors introduce the Open Microscopy Environment (OME) Compliant specification, which includes a simple, easy-to-use format for microscope imaging data that can be read by any software that supports TIFF files. They emphasize the need for journals to require deposition of original data supporting scientific manuscripts and for funding bodies to mandate the use of these standardized formats. The paper also reviews the current status of online biological image repositories and provides recommendations for driving the use of open, standardized data formats in biological microscopy. The goal is to build a global image data repository that supports the sharing and reanalysis of scientific data.The paper discusses the importance of metadata in accessing and sharing image data in the biological sciences, particularly in multidimensional microscopy. It highlights the challenges posed by proprietary file formats (PFFs) and advocates for the adoption of open, standardized data formats. The authors introduce the Open Microscopy Environment (OME) Compliant specification, which includes a simple, easy-to-use format for microscope imaging data that can be read by any software that supports TIFF files. They emphasize the need for journals to require deposition of original data supporting scientific manuscripts and for funding bodies to mandate the use of these standardized formats. The paper also reviews the current status of online biological image repositories and provides recommendations for driving the use of open, standardized data formats in biological microscopy. The goal is to build a global image data repository that supports the sharing and reanalysis of scientific data.