Supporting the Re-use of PSI in the UK

John WilliamsStandards Manager

www.opsi.gov.uk

What is meant by re-use of information?• reproduction of information in a way that was not originally intended when created

• includes publishing, copying, adapting, developing, adding value, broadcasting, downloading ….

Obstacles to re-use• knowing what is available• lack of established procedures• lack of transparency of terms• lack of charging information• exclusive licensing• delays• inconsistency• unfairness

How are we helping to tackle some of these obstacles?

• Information Asset Registers • PSI Click-Use Licence• Information Fair Trader Scheme• Dealing with complaints• Initiatives to increase re-usability

Information Asset Registers

• Based on the requirement to provide a searchable list of main documents available for re-use

• Should be complementary to publication schemes required by FOI legislation

• Focus on unpublished information

• Will often feature datasets and databases

• Working towards a “one list” approach

inforoute• OPSI co-ordinates access to the Government’s

IAR

• Searchable via inforoute

• Using common metadata standards

• Detailed guidance on appropriate fields

• http://www.opsi.gov.uk/iar/index.htm

Benefits of using the PSI Click-Use LicenceFor the public sector:• no need to develop own licence• tried and trusted licence model• no ongoing administration• add new items whenever they become available• no cost

For the re-user:• one stop shop• tried and trusted licence model• no need to negotiate individual licence with many public sector organisations• fast

PSI Click-Use processPublic Sector organisations need to:

• identify the copyright documents or categories of documents that can be used

• sign a simple mandate form

• publish a list of the documents on their website with a link to the OPSI website

Information Fair Trader SchemeFive principles:

• openness – maximising the available information • transparency – simple and clear policies and procedures• fairness – all are treated equally• compliance – internal procedures and review processes• challenge – complaints policy

Two routes:

Full IFTS Accreditation• full onsite verification of information traders

IFTS Online Assessment• flexible online assessment process

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ifts/index.htm

IFTS – the benefits• objective and expert assessment

• use of IFTS logo underlines your compliance with the PSI Regulations

• by raising your standards you could reduce complaints

What happens if things go wrong?Complain to the public sector body in the first instance

OSPI can take complaints under the PSI Regulations and/or IFTS:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ifts/ifts-complaints-procedure.htm

What’s available?

Can I re-use it?

Is the information in a re-useable form?

Obstacles looked at in another way…

Published on the webInformation Asset Registers

Policy in place Policy initiatives under active consideration or development

Is the information in a re-useable form?

• Improved access to unrefined data (Office of Fair Trading recommendation)•Publicly available research space for PSI (UoS/OPSI) – the “semantic web”, making use of URIs when publishing legislation • Re-users “format” request website (Power of Information)

Can I re-use it? • Waiver of copyright on UK government websites• Click-Use licensing

• Free non-commercial re-use licences (Power of Information)• OpenSpace (Ordnance Survey)• Click-Use web services

What’s available?

• Government Information published on the web• Information Asset Registers