Some have described the reaction to the Re-use of Public Sector
Information (RPSI) Regulations as “underwhelming”. However,
public bodies can ignore them at their peril. Many public
bodies are already allowing private sector organisations to re-use
their information, but may not have recognised this activity as
being governed by the RPSI Regulations. If any re-use is being
undertaken, the public body automatically has certain obligations,
such as a duty to publish a list of the information assets that it
currently licenses and the terms on which the licensing takes
place. If a decision is made to allow re-use of the information,
the public body must be sure that the document is not subject to
copyright, and if it is, that the
appropriate licence is in place to allow it.
We can advise on all aspects of the RPSI
Regulations and assist public bodies in making an assessment of the
impact on the public body that these provisions will make.
