Given the debate on the copyright issue, it certainly seems to need some clarification?
It all seems to stem from the problem that the data hasn't been created in the public domain by the UK Parliament in the first place. One would hope that given the importance of transparency to the operation of democracy, that the information regarding candidates, votes and basically everything surrounding the election that we see on the news daily, would in fact have one central, independent, reference source. The lack of that central reference source seems to be the crux of the matter. This reflects what often seems to happen with councils being given a mandate to run things, but there being no pressure on them to publish data in any common or readily acceptable form. My worry is that I see so much data recycling (organisation A takes data from Organisation B and then tweaks it before Organisation C uses it for a feed that is used by Organisation D etc) that not only is the legality of the data open to question, but so is the integrity. It is extraordinarily tempting just to use the data that can be found on the grounds of fair use / news access and even public interest, but it is frustrating that the legal position isn't clearer. Perhaps the Press Association will get back and say they are happy for anyone to use their election data with attribution ... that would be a nice resolution. Roger
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