Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
1–10 of 58 posts
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#2There are two further elements of this discussion that the article misses.
One is the fundamental approach to maximising value from government-created works. Traditionally, the Crown owns the copyright and then sells them to maximise revenue. The US approach is to make it public domain.
The second issue is that the bar for a creative work covered by copyright is much lower in the UK than in the US. The notorious case is football schedules which are copyrighted, but it also applies to cinema and train times.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#3[deleted]
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#4I was actually angry when they revoked the licence for MyRail then introduced a £5 app that did less under a different brand... I still haven't bought it
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#5I'm the Alex Hewson whose license got turned down for being critical of NRE. Backstory @ http://mocko.org.uk/b/2011/01/08/open-uk-rail-data-media-cov...
There hasn't been any progress since I wrote that and it really does seem that NRE are using the overly broad code of practice as a way to punish those who question their attitudes.
Hardly a progressive way for a body that gets a large amount of public funding to behave.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#6There are two further elements of this discussion that the article misses. One is the fundamental approach to maximising value from government-created works. Traditionally, the Crown owns the copyright and then sells them to maximise revenue. The US approach is to make it public domain. The second issue is that the bar for a creative work covered by copyright is much lower in the UK than in the US. The notorious case…
You seem to have misunderstood the source of train information. It's a private company that's publicly funded. The Crown does appear to own the copyright.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#7I'd have thought the answer is quangos.
But then I still don't understand why we, taxpayers, pay money to companies that pay out profits. Loans, fine, but why are we paying money that just leaks out in to shareholders bank accounts instead of being spent on transport and its infrastructure.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#8There are two further elements of this discussion that the article misses. One is the fundamental approach to maximising value from government-created works. Traditionally, the Crown owns the copyright and then sells them to maximise revenue. The US approach is to make it public domain. The second issue is that the bar for a creative work covered by copyright is much lower in the UK than in the US. The notorious case…
You seem to have misunderstood the source of train information. It's a private company that's publicly funded. The Crown does appear to own the copyright.
My point is that the article sidesteps a fundamental question about copyright of government works.
If you believe that the correct way to maximise value is to use the data commercially to maximise revenue then you won't see a problem with the current situation.
If you believe that the correct way to maximise value is to provide the data for free to end users then you'll think it's wrong.
The article implies the latter is true without argument, and implies it's the norm in the UK.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#9I wrote to my local MP about this issue and only got a pre-canned response back. As this only affects the public indirectly there's simply no pressure to change the status quo; priority will always be given to delays and capacity.
Re: Why (UK) train departure information is not open data.
#10When the trains are consistently late, the train company must refund a portion of the money that rail ticket holders pay.
If the data was open, this process would become automated and cost the train companies lots of money.