The Polish Council of Ministers adopted today a draft bill amending the Bill on Access to Public Information and certain other laws, submitted by the Minister of Interior and Administration. The draft Bill will now be sent to the Parliament.

The primary objective of the amendment is to introduce into national legislation rules for re-use of public information in line with the EU Directive 2003/98/EC.

The Bill introduces a new method for making public information available for re-use – through content repositories, pro-actively filled with resources by public institutions.  Designated public institutons will provide resources – in particular public data – specified by the Prime Minister, especially information of particular value as a source of innovative added value. Information will also be available through previously defined modes, including online Public Information Bulletins (BIP) and upon request.

As a rule, everyone will have the right to re-use of public information – without restrictions and free of charge, with only basic requirements, such as attribution of source. However, if the preparation of information for re-use will generate additional costs, a payment may be require to offset these costs. For information that is subject of copyright law, licenses will have to be used to provide broad rights of access and re-use.

Igor Ostrowski and Alek Tarkowski, co-founders and members of Centrum Cyfrowe Projekt: Polska have been actively involved in drafting this bill.

Official information published by the Government Information Center (in Polish).