tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post5442840358522648947..comments2023-11-02T20:45:14.873+11:00Comments on eGov AU: The coming open data battle - government versus commercial interestsCraig Thomlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350603210658700252noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-23063179467631285052011-03-18T19:31:36.224+11:002011-03-18T19:31:36.224+11:00As someone who works for a company that re-uses da...As someone who works for a company that re-uses data from the government in a commercial sense (and not at all speaking for said employer right now); I think that most people comprehend artificial scarcity of data all too well.<br /><br />What I see happening in the business though is analytics - this is where the real money is. 1 + 1 = 2; but you can sell a report where that has happened for $X.<br /><br />This assumes you are simply the better provider of analysis and results, therefore the trusted source of information; and you can ask for payment accordingly.<br /><br />I think this discussion will inevitably continue for some time, resulting in protectionist behaviour but I think in the majority of cases this will be proven more harmful than beneficial.<br />As a real world example; I can't get TV guide information in Australia because of the whole Channel 9/IceTV issues.<br />The result? I'm watching media on my computer; not your TV station; you have lost the chance to market to me.<br /><br />If you are a source of data; and you 'protect' it, why not open it up? You already know your data inside and out - this means you are more likely to be the first to market.<br />If you aren't, can you simply watch for what people are doing with that data and do it better for a tidy profit?<br />What are the negatives of giving up control, vs the benefits?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07488865674446632285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750343339904865739.post-65922685403657403362011-03-18T11:53:46.317+11:002011-03-18T11:53:46.317+11:00Note that this already happens re contract notices...Note that this already happens re contract notices. Companies try to claim their pricing is "commercial-in-confidence" even where that is in contradiction to the need for transparency in government spending. As the AGS advises "There appears to be a widely held belief in agencies that all business or commercial information is confidential information. This is not correct." <br />I have seen some laughable examples where agencies claim commercial-in-confidence for the contract terms and then put the quantity of product in the title. Total value / quantity = per unit pricing.<br /><br />I am also concerned by the "at-arms-length" government businesses that sell data for outrageous prices like Australia Post and PSMA. Surely they will start to play rough with agencies that release open data based on their spatial products because then they can be reverse engineered for free. <br /><br />If I recall correctly the OAIC is entertaining the possibility of 24hour to 1 week exclusives before documents get on FOI disclosure logs. I think the potential benefit of agencies actually using the logs properly outweighs the risk they will be less timely when a reporter wants an exclusive. There are enough enemies of transparency within the public sector, better to not stir up the media organisations too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com