BC gov't sows fear by claiming 'crown copyright' on released documents, say critics
February 24th, 2009 12:00am
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Congratulations! The B.C. government -- the one that promised to be "the most open, accountable and democratic government in Canada" -- has just granted your freedom of information request.
You open the package of documents and find a notice that seems to say you can't make the information public without the government's permission.
"Permission of the copyright holder" -- that would be the B.C. government -- "must be obtained prior to any reproduction, dissemination or sale of these records (including the posting of such records on the Internet). If you wish to reproduce a record or portion of a record that is subject to Crown copyright, you must send a copyright request to the Province's Intellectual Property Program."
Huh?
In the eyes of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, this notice is both intimidating and legally questionable. About a year ago, FIPA and researcher Stanley Tromp filed a complaint with B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner.
LINK to full article by Tom Barrett, TheTyee.ca:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2009/02/24/FOIWarnings/
LINK to article by Stanley Tromp, Vancouver Sun:
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=69970f8a-8f9a-4200-b41d-062707d8ea7c
Congratulations! The B.C. government -- the one that promised to be "the most open, accountable and democratic government in Canada" -- has just granted your freedom of information request.
You open the package of documents and find a notice that seems to say you can't make the information public without the government's permission.
"Permission of the copyright holder" -- that would be the B.C. government -- "must be obtained prior to any reproduction, dissemination or sale of these records (including the posting of such records on the Internet). If you wish to reproduce a record or portion of a record that is subject to Crown copyright, you must send a copyright request to the Province's Intellectual Property Program."
Huh?
In the eyes of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, this notice is both intimidating and legally questionable. About a year ago, FIPA and researcher Stanley Tromp filed a complaint with B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner.
LINK to full article by Tom Barrett, TheTyee.ca:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2009/02/24/FOIWarnings/
LINK to article by Stanley Tromp, Vancouver Sun:
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=69970f8a-8f9a-4200-b41d-062707d8ea7c
