From d5449c0949fe5b3505322119a2549b497e863281 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: 46halbe <46halbe@berlin.ccc.de> Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 14:20:30 +0000 Subject: committing page revision 3 --- updates/2013/offenerbriefopendata.en.md | 136 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 136 insertions(+) create mode 100644 updates/2013/offenerbriefopendata.en.md (limited to 'updates') diff --git a/updates/2013/offenerbriefopendata.en.md b/updates/2013/offenerbriefopendata.en.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1eb55de2 --- /dev/null +++ b/updates/2013/offenerbriefopendata.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,136 @@ +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”! + + + +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!** + + + +  + +**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) + +\[3\] + -- cgit v1.2.3