The UK today launches data.gov.uk, an open data initiative modeled after the U.S. data.gov site.

Open Access Promo Material by Biblioteekje (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Open Access
Canada Dragging Its Feet on Open Data Initiatives
Earlier this year, I wrote about the budding momentum behind governments making their data more readily available to the public for reuse. Open data initiatives have generated dozens of commercial and non-commercial websites that add value to the government data. Some make the data more understandable by using interactive maps to provide visuals about where activities are taking place (e.g. government stimulus spending). Others make the data more accessible by offering services to customize or deliver government information (e.g. postal codes to allow public interest groups to launch advocacy campaigns).
The crucial aspect behind these initiatives is that the government makes the data available in open formats free from restrictive licences so companies and civil society groups can create innovative websites, tools, and online services.
My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that last week the global open data movement received a big boost in three countries that is sure to leave Canadians wondering why their government has been so slow to move on this issue.
Canada Dragging Its Feet on Open Data Initiatives
Appeared in the Toronto Star on December 14, 2009 as Canada Dragging Its Feet on Open Data Initiatives Earlier this year, I wrote about the budding momentum behind governments making their data more readily available to the public for reuse. Open data initiatives have generated dozens of commercial and non-commercial […]
University of Ottawa Adopts Commitment to Open Access
There is some exciting news at the University of Ottawa as it has become the first major Canadian research university to announce a comprehensive open access strategy. As part of the announcement, the University has joined the Compact for Open Access Publishing. It is the first non-U.S. school to do […]
CMAJ To Drop Open Access In January
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has announced that it will cease being an open access journal beginning in January 2010 with plans to restrict some content to subscribers. Canadian medical researchers who wish to publish in an open access journal can still publish in Open Medicine, a peer-reviewed, independent open […]