[Freegis-list] free gis data

[Jo Walsh]

On Fri, Jun 10, 2005 at 08:02:46PM +0200, Henrion Benjamin wrote:
> What is the status of the directive?

It went through on first reading on June 6th. I think there was never
any doubt. I suppose there will be a gravy train for 'viewing'
applications as mandated, and open source GIS could make a big niche
there.  i got a nice response from my MEP:

BREPOELS: Infrastructure for spatial information in the Community
(INSPIRE)
+(first reading, co-decision)

The report was adopted by the plenary without further changes to the
ENVI
+committee result. The report improves the commission proposal e.g. in
taking
+into account different levels of government, and strenghtening
consultation of
+stakeholders in drafting implementing measures on specific data sets.
Our
+amendments extending the scope of the directive to cover areas under
+anthropogenic stress and renewable energy resources and addressing
concerns
+over licencing were also part of the ENVI report.

As regards the question of possibility of charging for accessing
spacial data,
+the Committee supported the Rapporteur's compromise which allows for
public
+sector to collect fees for commercial reuse of public sector data,
while
+maintaining that viewing should be free (am 26).