Re-use of Public Sector Information

1. What is re-use of Public Sector Information?

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 ("the Regulations") require OGC to permit other organisations or individuals to use information it produces providing that the other organisation or individual meets certain requirements and in some circumstances pays a fee.

Under the Regulations, OGC is required to deal with all requests for re-use of its information in a fair, open and transparent fashion and in order to comply with this duty, has provided the following information to enable you to locate and access the information you require.

A request for re-use of public sector information should be made where an organisation or person wishes to use information produced by OGC for any purposes other than the purpose for which it was produced.

2. What information is covered?

The Regulations cover re-use of material and documents which are covered by copyright laws, but do not cover other types of intellectual property rights such as trade marks and design rights.  OGC can license the use of Crown copyright material,  more information can be found here

All information produced by OGC is covered by Crown copyright and will generally come under the scope of the Regulations.  There are certain exemptions:

(a) Information which is not within OGC's public task

If OGC publishes any information that is not directly related to its main responsibilities then this information is exempt from the Regulations. 

(b) Information that would not be released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

If OGC has withheld any information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the statutory exemption is still valid, then permission will not be granted to re-use this information.

(c) Information that does not belong to OGC

OGC may hold information that belongs to a third party.  If this is the case, then you must obtain permission from the appropriate party before using the information.

3. How do I obtain permission to re-use OGC's information?

This depends on what information you are interested in re-using and you should follow the rules below.

(a) I want to re-use information on the OGC website

You are permitted to re-use most of the information on the OGC website, providing that you comply with the terms of the waiver notice.  You do not have to apply for a formal licence.  Any information not covered by the waiver notice will be clearly marked and instructions as to who to contact to make a request for re-use of that information will be stated.

Any information on the website which is marked as being the copyright of a third party may only be re-used with the permission of that third party and is not covered by the waiver notice.

(b) I want to re-use information that I have received under a Freedom of Information request or from an OGC publication

If you wish to re-use information belonging to OGC which you have received from a source other than the OGC website, then you will have to apply to us for a licence.  You may be charged a fee depending on the information that you wish to re-use and whether your re-use is for a commercial purpose.  We publish a list of charges on our website.

(c) I want to use OGC information and I work for another central government department

In accordance with the policy laid down by OPSI, other government departments do not need a formal licence to re-use Crown copyright material, however they must re-use any information in accordance with the terms of the appropriate click-use licence.  For further information, please refer to the OPSI website.

Further information on OGC's policies relating to intellectual property can be found at here.

Detailed guidance on the Regulations is available on the OPSI website.

The UK Intellectual Property Office gives more information on intellectual property rights.