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In this section, you will be able to find out about the proposals for implementation of the EU Directive on Public Sector Information and the obligations for most public sector bodies once the Directive is implemented in the UK on 1 July 2005.
Public sector information is any information that is produced by a public sector body. Public sector bodies include central government, local authorities, health authorities.
The Directive does not apply to some public sector bodies. These include:
- Public service broadcasters
- Educational and research establishments, such as schools, universities, archives, libraries and research facilities
- Cultural establishments, such as museums, libraries, archives, orchestras, operas, ballets and theatres
EU Directive on Public Sector Information
The aim of the Directive is to
remove obstacles that stand in the way of re-using public sector information. In doing
so it will stimulate the development of value added products and services across Europe
and help to boost the information industry. More information >>
Key obligations under the
Directive
Standard Licences
You will be required to be transparent and open about the terms of re-use you offer
and any re-use fees you may charge. Where licences are required, you should use standard
terms and conditions. To help you, we have produced some example licences which you may
adapt for your own use. More information >>
Copyright and Licensing Arrangements
It will help re-users if you provide accurate notices and statements on your documents
and websites. This will focus on copyright ownership and arrangements for re-use.
To help you, we have produced some examples which you may adapt for your own use.
More information >>
Asset Lists
You will be required to produce an asset list so that potential re-users of your
information know what is available for them to re-use. This asset list should
include both published and unpublished information that you hold.
HMSO is currently developing a model for the next generation Information Asset Register (IAR) that will enable public bodies to easily identify information assets that are available for re-use. More information on this will be available shortly.
Transparency and Fairness
You will be required to be transparent and fair in the way that you process
applications to re-use your material. Our Information Fair Trader Scheme (IFTS) has been set up to help you meet this obligation. The current scheme
involves a formal verification to show
compliance which will not be appropriate for most organisations. Therefore,
we are developing a simplified self-assessment scheme, details of which will
be published later this year.
Complaints
You will be required to be open about how users can complain about the service
they receive from you. You should publish details of your complaints process.
Meeting the obligations
To help you see in practical terms how the obligations can be met, we have produced the following case study based on a fictional local authority, Northshire County Council. Although the example we've used is a local authority, the same principles are likely to apply to many other public sector bodies.
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Complying with the European Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Information: Northshire County Council: a fictionalised case study
- Word file (47 KB)
- PDF (79 KB)
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Public
Sector 
