
doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2653555
This article addresses the question of commercialization of public sector information, exploring freedom of information acts in the U.S. and the EU, where a public sector information directive has been recently adopted and implemented. The article argues that a right to commercialize should be distinguished from the right to know under the freedom of information acts, and that the freedom to commercialize can and should be subject to restrictions. It also considers existing licensing regimes of public sector information and argues that public sector information should be licensed by governments under certain terms where it is licensed for commercial purposes and takes into account the public interest in creating these informational works in the first place. The introduction of such restraints is justified and equitable given the public investment in creating these important informational goods. Possible challenges to this licensing model are also introduced and addressed.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 2 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
