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+title: We need accessible platforms and open licenses for our data!
+date: 2013-02-06 23:26:00 
+updated: 2013-02-09 14:20:30 
+author: 46halbe
+tags: update, pressemitteilung, open data
+
+Joint statement: Finally setting the standard to “open”!
+
+<!-- TEASER_END -->
+
+On August 8th, 2012, the German Federal Ministry of the Interior
+announced its intention to build an open government data portal to make
+national information and data freely available for use by citizens.
+
+Up until now, a lot of the relevant datasets have still not been made
+available or at least are not released under an open license. The German
+open data and open government community (here undersigned) [put together
+a (sample-)list of relevant
+datasets](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AplklDf0nYxWdEx1RGJJX3hnVHl5VzRvWGMwZjMyaHc&usp=sharing&authkey=CPaKlO0N#gid=0)
+that we are requesting to be released in accordance with the [Open
+Definition](http://opendefinition.org/). As it stands right now, the
+community fears a watering down of the open government idea may be the
+only effect of the platform. \[3\]
+
+**In an open letter, representatives of the German Open Data community
+outline why the federal data platform (govdata.de) is not acceptable in
+its currently planned form.**
+
+The reasons for our current criticism are as follows:
+
+The [chosen license
+model](https://github.com/fraunhoferfokus/ogd-metadata/tree/master/lizenzen)
+\[4\] for the portal is a custom solution that does not conform
+to [internationally recognized standards](http://opendefinition.org/)
+\[5\]. The portal, as seen so far, is lacking provisions for usability
+and security. Furthermore, there are no visible efforts to motivate
+users to reuse the data provided.
+
+**The custom licence model cuts Germany off from the open data pool**
+
+Major problems with applying a custom license to the data in question is
+that unfamiliarity with a new license discourages reuse, as developers
+and users must seek additional advice before risking to work with the
+data. Moreover, the most interesting and useful applications developed
+with open data often require data from numerous sources to be combined –
+this is why interoperability (such as is possible between some of the
+approved open licenses listed above) is so important.
+
+**What needs to happen?**
+
+The success of the platform and the entire open government data strategy
+of Germany depends on the publication of government data that is truly
+open. The current approach risks devaluing the concept of open
+government.
+
+This is why we are making the following requests from www.govdata.de:
+
+1.  Data should be made accessible according to the [ten
+    principles](http://sunlightfoundation.com/policy/documents/ten-open-data-principles/)
+    of open data;
+2.  Recognition and adherence to true open government (data) and [open
+    and explicit licences](http://opendefinition.org/);
+3.  Data should be open by default and closed only in justified
+    exceptions;
+4.  Civil law standard licensing instead of administrative law terms of
+    use and abandonment of legal control over single datasets;
+5.  The release of relevant and meaningful major datasets, rather than
+    unimportant information;
+6.  Marketing of the platform as the central repository for public data
+    in the country and communication of its importance and activity;
+7.  Establishment of a central and authoritative clearing house for data
+    with authority to reprimand institutions if necessary.
+
+**Government data means that administrations govern it, not that they
+own it.**
+
+Opening government data will only be a success if unrestricted use is
+possible and actively encouraged. The platform should have model
+character and win support of all actors, including those possibly
+reusing the data. This is only possible by reaching an advanced state in
+usability, interfaces, security, accessability and openness. In its
+current state, the platform is far from these goals which is why the
+“community” cannot in good faith put its support behind it yet.
+
+Representatives of the “German Open Data Community”
+
+ 
+
+**Initial Signers**:
+
+Daniel Dietrich, Open Knowledge Foudation Deutschland e. V.,
+Vorstandsvorsitzender
+
+Daniel Lentfer, Mitinitiator des Hamburgischen Transparenzgesetzes
+
+Mathias Schindler, Wikimedia Deutschland e. V.
+
+Boris Hekele, abgeordnetenwatch.de/Parlamentwatch e. V., Mitgründer
+
+Lavinia Steiner, Digitale Gesellschaft e. V., stellvertretende
+Vorstandsvorsitzende
+
+Markus Beckedahl, netzpolitik.org
+
+Christian Heise, Initiative e-demokratie.org, Open Knowledge Foundation
+Deutschland e. V.
+
+Christian Horchert, Open Data Network e. V., stellvertretender
+Vorstandsvorsitzender
+
+Sören Auer, Koordinator des EU-Forschungsprojektes zu Linked Open Data
+LOD2
+
+Michael Hirdes, Chaos Computer Club e. V.
+
+Holger Drewes, opendata-showroom.org
+
+ 
+
+**Please sign!**
+
+<http://not-your-govdata.de/>
+
+ 
+
+**Links**:
+
+\[1\] Feb, 4th 2013: Open Gov Germany: [German government screws up open
+data](http://opengovgermany.com/2013/02/04/german-government-screws-up-open-data/)
+
+\[2\] Feb, 6th 2013: European Public Sector Information
+Platform: [Criticism Mounting Before German Data Portal
+Launch](http://epsiplatform.eu/content/criticism-mounting-german-data-portal-launch)
+
+\[3\]
+<http://sunlightfoundation.com/policy/documents/ten-open-data-principles/>