[CivicAccess-discuss] ask the Copyright Consultation for Crown Copyright reform

[Jennifer Bell]

Thanks for your comments, Tracey... but I disagree with your pessimism.  Even though Crown Copyright is old, it can still be changed.  

Personally, I'm inspired by the recent steps in the UK to change to a 'Crown Commons' license to improve ability to re-use public sector information [1] at the recommendation of the most recent Power of Information Task Force Report [2].  Even more interesting is New Zealand, where the state published a draft proposing that in all instances where Crown Copyright would be applied, CC-BY be applied instead [3], for the same reasons.

While there are examples of invent-your-own liscensing by different departments, these are exceptions.  Case-by-case crown copyright exemptions have also been made when challenged by the public [4] -- which seems a bit silly.  

It would be better if there were a consistent framework applied that favored allowing data re-use by default, rather than by exception.  Asking for Crown Copyright reform is one way to try to bring about this change.  

Of course, if no one speaks up, nothing will happen.

Jennifer 

[1] http://blogs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/digitalengagement/?tag=/tim+berners-lee
[2] http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/power_of_information.aspx
[3] http://www.e.govt.nz/policy/information-data/nzgoalframework.html
[4] http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/3953/135/

--- On Thu, 9/10/09, Tracey P. Lauriault <tlauriau at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Tracey P. Lauriault <tlauriau at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [CivicAccess-discuss] ask the Copyright Consultation for Crown Copyright reform
> To: "civicaccess discuss" <civicaccess-discuss at civicaccess.ca>
> Received: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 3:07 PM
> I like the process you suggest but wonder if
> you might re-think crowncopyright.  It is a very old
> institution in Canada, one that will not disapear easily at
> it is part of the Formation of Canada.  Also, while crown
> copyright will probably not disapear, there are work
> arounds.  It is also perhaps not necessarily crown
> copyright that is the problem but perhaps it is the
> interpretation that is problematic.  For instance
> GeoConnections has created the following licenses - http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/licence.jsp,
> which still respects crown copyright yet is is pretty much
> simular to an open bsd.  This might be a very good license
> to wrap onto crown copyrighted data until which time if/when
> crown copyright disapears.
> 
> 
> Also there are no clear data dissemination & access
> policies at the federal government that direct data
> producing sectors in the public service nor is there an
> infrastructure in place to do so.  So it might be good to
> add that too!  Access and the means to disseminate in a way
> that is easy for the public to use.
> 
> 
> It is also important to discuss which data - Census?
> environment? Statistical? Geographic? Science? Research? and
> so on.
> 
> Cheers
> t
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 1:29 PM,
> Jennifer Bell <jenniferlianne at yahoo.ca>
> wrote:
> 
> Hi there,
> 
> 
> 
> If you'd like to see changes to the way the federal
> government licenses Public Sector Information, one way to
> voice your concern is to submit a letter to the current
> Copyright Consultations using our form:
> 
> 
> 
> http://visiblegovernment.ca/campaigns/crowncopyright/
> 
> 
> 
> If you don't like the way the submission is written,
> you can always edit it to say what you like.  The important
> thing is to say something.
> 
> 
> 
> You can see from the consultation submissions listing that
> they are tracking form letters, like this one here: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/008.nsf/eng/00250.html
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Which is generated by this website: http://www.ccer.ca/send-a-letter-to-ottawa-to-stop-the-canadian-dmca/
> 
> 
> 
> So even without changes, your form letter will be accepted
> and counted.
> 
> 
> 
> Jennifer Bell
> 
> http://visiblegovernment.ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     
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> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Tracey P. Lauriault
> 613-234-2805
> https://gcrc.carleton.ca/confluence/display/GCRCWEB/Lauriault
> 
> 
> 
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