OPSI Reviews UK PSI Implementation

Source: UK Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI)

OPSI publishes review of the implementation of the PSI Directive in the UK

London: 31st July 2007

The UK Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) commemorates the second anniversary of the implementation of the Directive 2003/98/EC ( UK Transposition The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1515) with the publication of a review of the first two years of implementation of the Directive within the UK. This is believed to be a first within Europe and is a welcomed contribution to the process of maximising the return to Society from the exploitation of public sector information. (PSI) The review also reports on the interaction with the wider European PSI community through the ePSI plus Thematic Network.

The Executive Summary states:

“Marking two years since the UK implementation of The Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (PSI Regulations), this report reviews the progress made in the UK. It sets out the practical and innovative steps taken by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) to ensure that this important piece of legislation is recognised, understood and put into practice. To date, OPSI has:

  • published a range of guidance material which sets out step-by-step what public sector organisations need to do to meet their responsibilities;

  • contacted over 400 public sector organisations to spread awareness and raise standards;

  • introduced the Information Fair Trader Scheme (IFTS), IFTS Online, AKTive PSI and Click-Use Licensing, which set standards and make it easier to re-use public sector information; and

  • investigated a number of complaints against public sector information holders, leading to licensing improvements.

The UK’s public sector information (PSI) assets are extremely valuable yet often under utilised. This report aims to explore the policy and action taken by OPSI and others so far and place this activity within the wider information policy context in the UK. The report sets out the further actions which OPSI will be taking to ensure that the UK grasps the opportunities to maximise the potential of PSI.

A key activity for OPSI has been to raise the profile of the re-use agenda, ensuring that it is central to emerging information policy development. We have played a key role in The Power of Information Review and the Office of Fair Trading’s study into the Commercial Use of Public Information (CUPI).”

Report Title

The United Kingdom Implementation of the European Directive on the Re-use of Public Sector Information - the first two years

References

ISBN 978-011989-904-7 Pages: 36 July 2007

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

  • Aims

  • The Office of Public Sector Information

  • Background

  • UK Public Sector Information

  • Key Principles and Objectives

CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF THE PSI REGULATIONS

  • Organisations Covered

  • Scope

  • Public Task

  • Third Party Copyrights

  • Material Not Available for Re-use

CHAPTER 3: SPREADING AWARENESS AND SETTING STANDARDS

  • Compliance and Best Practice

  • Licensing Forum

CHAPTER 4: INITIATIVES

  • Information Fair Trader Scheme

  • IFTS Online

  • Asset Lists

  • One List

  • Click-Use Licensing

  • AKTive PSI: Leading by Example

  • Disputes Resolution

  • Mediation

CHAPTER 5: CONTEXT AND LINKED INITIATIVES

  • Introduction

  • External Reviews

  • Power of Information Review

  • OFT Commercial Use of Public Information Report

  • Information Sharing Strategy

  • Cross-Government Coordination

  • Competition Issues

  • Links with the Offices of the UK Information Commissioners

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

  • Expert Advice and Input

  • The Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information

  • The Knowledge Council

  • Summary and Further Action

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTIONS