London: 23 April 2009

The UK Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) has published a press release titled:

The press release states:

Following the publication of the new Ordnance Survey (OS) business strategy, as part of the Trading Funds Assessment, Michael Wills, Minister with responsibility for The National Archives, welcomed the opportunity for the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), operating from within The National Archives, to work closely with the Shareholder Executive and OS in reviewing and developing the business model over the coming months. OPSI, in consultation with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), will track and monitor progress on a regular basis, to ensure the strategy delivers its aim to provide users easier and simpler access to geographic information.

A key challenge under the new model will be to develop a licence framework that will make licensing simpler, fairer and more transparent for business and other customers. OPSI will work with Shareholder Executive and OS to develop a new licensing framework. This is part of an evolutionary cycle in facilitating the re-use of geospatial information.

OPSI is committed to maintaining a high level of momentum on this work and, in consultation with OFT, will review progress of the new OS business model on a regular on-going basis, producing progress reports in October 2009 and April 2010. If necessary, OPSI and OFT, will, as part of its review, recommend further changes to the business strategy in order to ensure a fairer and more transparent model.

Michael Wills, Minister with responsibility for The National Archives, said:

“Geographic data, as part of public sector information is immensely important and underpins a huge number of activities both commercial and social. It is therefore imperative that we have an effective framework in place that encourages and facilitates use of this vitally important national asset to drive innovation.”

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