Right to Know Week, FOI Music, and Crown Copyright
Mark Weiler
*** Right to Know Week. What's going on? ***
Groups around the world raise awareness about Freedom of Information legislation during "Right to Know Week" which is schedule for Sept 27 to Oct 1 this year. So what's going on?
The Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada is now distributing an oeuvre of planning documents for Right to Know Week 2010 and 2011. The documents can be ordered from: http://www.infocom.gc.ca/eng/completed_requests.aspx or http://www.infocom.gc.ca/fra/completed_requests.aspx (click on A-2010-0009).
Some of the planning documents can be downloaded here: http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/drupal/node/11
*** Crown Copyright ***
Crown Copyright and Licensing at Public Works and Government Services recently distributed an email announcing:
"To date, unless the information requested is found on a GC website, permission to reproduce GC information necessitates written approval from CCL. As stated in the Important Notices (the "Notice") found on GC websites, permission to reproduce information contained in GC websites for personal or public non-commercial use is not required. However, the same is not applicable should the information be available in a different format; such as paper format, CD-Rom format etc.
Good news! In order to provide better and easier access to GC information, CCL has spent the last several months developing new internal policies and procedures. With that in mind, it is with great pleasure that CCL announces that permission to reproduce GC information for personal or public non-commercial purposes in formats other than published on GC websites is no longer a requirement, unless otherwise specified"
Some conditions apply. These are:
1. exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the materials reproduced.
2. indicate both the complete title of the materials reproduced and the author organization.
3. indicate that the reproduction is a copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and that the reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.
It "does not apply to translation, adaptation or revision requests."
*** Freedom of Information Music ***
Music is needed to get us thinking about Freedom of Information Legislation during Right to Know Week. Suggest Freedom of Information songs here (see current foi songs too):
http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/drupal/node/18
Mark Weiler