The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 implement an EU directive that encourages the re-use of public information for purposes other than its original purpose. The aim is to stimulate the European information industry and enable companies to use our information for commercial purposes.
The regulations do not oblige public bodies to make their information available for re-use unless there is a statutory obligation to do so. They do oblige public bodies to:
- publish a list of the main documents which can be re-used
- publish any standard conditions associated with re-use
- publish any standard charges associated with re-use
- operate a request procedure
- operate a complaints/appeals procedure.
The regulations apply to any recorded information (as defined for FoI), including whole documents or parts of documents.
There are some exemptions to the regulations, including educational or cultural establishments, intellectual property that rests with a third party, and information that is exempt under FoI, Data Protection and other legislation.