p2pnet.net News:- The British government say it will allow complete access to its Statute Law Database, 10 years in the making and cataloguing all existing legislation in the UK back to the 13th century.

“It marks a sea-change in the general thinking about the way government information becomes available,” the BBC has Jim Wretham, head of information policy at the office of public sector information, saying.

This could mean fees are, “removed completely and would be a huge victory for campaigners and websites keen to exploit the vast resources of government databases,” says the story, although it’s likely that anyone wanting to use it will still be required to apply for licences, “to ensure that government information is not misrepresented or used to mislead the public,” according to Wretham.

The Statute Law Database is an obscure if fascinating resource for anyone interested in the UK’s legal history, says the BBC, going on, “it includes such gems as the 1313 statute forbidding the bearing of armour and the 1661 March Dykes Act, an example of early planning law.”

The Office of Fair Trading recently published a report on the commercial use of public information and, “certain aspects of our licensing activities were questioned,” says Wretham in the story,

The government has until the end of March to respond to the findings.

Slashdot it!

Also See:
BBC – Government looks at data shake-up, January 12, 2007

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