[okfn-za] [HacksHackers Cape Town] Please Sue Me

Tue Apr 30 16:55:28 UTC 2013

I'd be a super keen project cheerleader :)

On 30 April 2013 16:31, Adi Eyal <adi at burgercom.co.za> wrote:

> Thanks Niki
>
> Actually, programming is just one of the many skills that are
> required. We need the following (in no particular order):
>
> 1. Scrapers (there are some tools that can help non-programmers scrape
> simple data)
> 2. Identification of worthwhile datasets
> 3. General project cheerleaders
> 4. Legal opinions would be welcome
> 5. Discussions around data availability. The more we discuss this
> amongst ourselves and in other public spaces, the more it because a
> real issue.
> 6. Possibly a bunch more - we'll figure it out as we go along.
>
> The bottom line is - don't exclude yourself if you're not a coder.
> There are other dimensions to this problem.
>
> A nice side-effect of this project is that we can start putting
> together an data census in South Africa. What data is available and
> where.
>
> Adi
>
> On 30 April 2013 15:24, Niki Moore <nikimoore007 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I really wish I could help you, but not being a hacker myself I wouldn't
> > know where to start.  However, what I am very happy to do is take some of
> > the hacked stuff and point out how useless it is in the first place...
> for
> > instance, the DSD database of NGOs is five years out of date, and 90% of
> > their records are wrong.  One of the biggest problems on the property
> roll
> > is that it is inaccurate.  I could go on.....
> >
> > Maybe one of the reasons why the government is so protective of their
> > information is because they know that most of it is useless for purposes
> of
> > governance.  So - perhaps a side angle would be that it is important for
> the
> > public to have access to this information so that they can check that it
> is
> > correct!
> >
> > N
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 3:09 PM, Adi Eyal <adi at burgercom.co.za> wrote:
> >>
> >> Some of you may have read an article that I posted recently on the
> >> OKFN mailing list and on the Daily Maverick with regards to the
> >> openness of government data in South Africa.
> >>
> >> In that article, I described an exercise that I undertook to gain
> >> commercial access to that data. I have had very few responses, all of
> >> which expressly forbid commercial use.
> >>
> >> As per the Copyright Act, I am not certain that most of this data
> >> qualifies for copyright protection as it usually contains a database
> >> of facts where no innovative process was used to produce said data. On
> >> the moral front, it seems absurd that data produced using public funds
> >> should be restricted in such a way. In an ideal world an open data
> >> licence would be attached to all government data allowing for re-use
> >> without permission or restriction. Please see an excerpt from a
> >> comment that I received from the legal advisor to parliament:
> >>
> >> "Should you wish to request permission or a licence to use information
> >> on our webpage for commercial gain, I suggest you indicate the item
> >> you want to use and the specific purpose for its use to allow us to
> >> make an informed decision. "
> >>
> >> I it is unacceptable to be required to request permission to re-use a
> >> list of MPs listed on www.parliament.gov.za
> >>
> >> I would like to propose a provocative response that will hopefully
> >> spark a conversation (and despite the codename, not get me sued).
> >> Volunteers and comments and criticisms welcome.
> >>
> >> The idea is as follows:
> >>
> >> 1. Build a website registered at www.pleasesueme.co.za
> >> 2. Scrape a bunch of data from government website, stuff that seems to
> >> not be copyrightable
> >> 3. Upload it to the website and offer it up for sale for a nominal
> >> fee. It needs to be sold so as to assert a right for general re-use.
> >> Sold data will be re-released under an open licence.
> >>
> >> The money (i expect very little data to be actually sold) will be used
> >> to fund a war-chest (however small) for a legal defense if it comes to
> >> that. My gut feeling is that we won't get any response at all but by
> >> being provocative, we might get people thinking about why it might be
> >> important to push open data licences within government. We might get a
> >> take-down notice which would be evaluated based on merit. I can't
> >> imagine (though I am not a lawyer) that any public agency has the
> >> time, money or wherewithal to take this to court.
> >>
> >> Any responses, including flames about how I'm being naive or that
> >> antagonism is not the correct approach are welcome.
> >>
> >> Adi
> >>
> >> --
> >> Adi Eyal
> >> Data Specialist
> >> phone: +27 78 014 2469
> >> skype: adieyalcas
> >> linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
> >>
> >> --
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> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Adi Eyal
> Data Specialist
> phone: +27 78 014 2469
> skype: adieyalcas
> linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
>
> --
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>
>
>
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