Public sector culture and PSI re-use

Rob Davies

Theme 2 Breakout Session

ePSIplus Conference

funded by eContentPlus

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ePSIplus problem analysis• eGovernment is a driving force

– increasingly sees itself as entrepreneurial: income generation, public sector efficiency, value etc

– PSI very often not seen as part of eGovernment: good or bad thing?

– confusion with outsourcing/PPP policies• Lack of awareness among public sector bodies

– Especially local government (n.b. different copyright regimes)

– Poor articulation of objectives and benefits of Directive transposition

– Unclear about relationship with other laws (data protection, FOI etc) etc

– Wider value of public sector data– Weak knowledge of data availability

.

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Problem analysis (2)• Lack of political leadership, champions, exemplars

– no public body responsible for implementing the PSI Directive and managing copyright

• Cost – lack of interest/priority and money (for this purpose)

• Perceptions and (in)action– limited understanding/sympathy with private sector and

commercial needs – ‘why should we give it for nothing?’: licencing information

free for non-commercial re-use, but not for commercial purposes

– FOI broadly accepted: commercial re-use of PSI sometimes seen as immoral

– Social inclusion: fears that access will be restricted

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Access and standards

• Standardisation is initially expensive for public sector

• Agreement and implementation of standards is often difficult in public sector– national and European

• Few asset registers • Missing skills/standards for description of

information• Missing skills/standards for pricing, licensing etc

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Remedies? (1)

• Europe-wide good practice guidance– ‘cherry pick’ the best of existing good practice across

Europe – available in several languages via eGovernment

portals etc– clear definitions of ‘ PSI’ and ‘re-use’

• Include PSI within IM processes, training and formal education– develop eLearning tools

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Remedies? (2)

• Articulate/market the economic and social benefits of opening up PSI

– target opinion formers and policy makers – Benefits to local businesses, local area, local

citizens?• Clarify what public sector will gain

– how to fund/recompense public sector– identify functioning business models– focus on information sectors where demand is evident

• eNetwork for PSI practitioners – self-support knowledge transfer service – effective for FOI?

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Remedies (3)?

• Annual competitive (eGovernment) awards

– Member State and European level • Target private sector networks to stimulate PSI

demand– impact public sector culture– Involve innovation professionals

• Harmonise legal guidance to public sector

– across access, re-use laws, data privacy laws, data policies• Include PSI in public sector performance measures

– number of current PSI licences– income from the re-use of PSI– number of requests for PSI re-use received

• Realistic standardised action plans for asset registers

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Interested in PSI then why not visit:

www.ePSIplus.net