ePSIplus An overview John Gray Council of Property Search Organisations European Associations Meeting, Copenhagen, funded by eContentPlus

Council of Property Search Organisations MEMBERSHIP of the Council of Property Search Organisations. CoPSO represents the interests of ALL business concerns involved in the provision of Private and Public Sector Land & Property Searches within the UK. It includes Personal Search Companies, Official Search Retailers, Mining Authorities, Environmental Search Companies and a majority of Regional Water & Drainage Companies in the UK. Membership of CoPSO extends to over 50 National & Regional companies who actively interface with 80% of property searches undertaken in the UK in any one year. CoPSO members collectively, compile in excess of 2.5 Million individual reports a year. CoPSO Membership also includes Home Information Pack facilitators. All CoPSO members will have an interest and rapidly growing interface with PSI Re-Use & case studies of active PSI re-use are available. CoPSO does not at present run an award scheme that identifies PSI Re- users BUT continues to promote and actively support re-use at all levels.

Council of Property Search Organisations POLICY of the Council of Property Search Organisations on PSI re-use: CoPSO defers to guidelines and good practice initiatives promoted by the UK Government primarily through the agency of the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) policy is both published and publicly available online and is available to members in the form of updates and active web site links. Official Policy as laid down by the Office of Public Sector Information can be viewed on the web at Copso is keen to support and promote good practice guidelines with the aim of ensuring supportive and harmonious working relationships between the Private & Public Sectors within the UK Economy.

Council of Property Search Organisations ACTIONS of the Council of Property Search Organisations on PSI re-use Since 1st July 2005 – CoPSO has taken a proactive stance with regards the re- use of PSI and sought to ensure that the highest profile was supported in seeking to promote active re-use in the UK. CoPSO has held meetings of its members dedicated to the re-use of PSI with the aim of raising Awareness, Sharing Information Platforms and disseminating the Information Resource. Politicians within the UK have been actively lobbied on PSI re-use. Government Ministries within the UK have been approached on PSI Re-use Policies to help promote take up. Independent Information Industry specialists have also been lobbied in order that effective re-use strategies could be engendered within the UK. A cornerstone of the lobbying activities has been in support of the notion of active re-use of PSI within the UK in support of the general needs of members. It is too early to state with clarity if the lobbying activity has been a success but it has certainly promoted the open concept of active re-use in the UK.

Council of Property Search Organisations CONCERNS of the Council of Property Search Organisations on PSI re-use. Defined lack of Education & Awareness within the wider Public Sector as to the ideal of PSI re-use. This along with basic resource and Agenda priority issues has restricted promotion & acceptance of PSI re-use in the UK. The continued dichotomy between Public/Private Sectors within the Economy which often results in a ‘them and us’ attitude and introduces inefficiencies. The need for clarification as regards the concept of Third Party Copyright in the UK. (OPSI will be seeking to issue guidelines). CoPSO has already attempted to address member concerns with regards a these points, by actively liaising with Government Departments (OPSI), supporting the actions of fellow Trade Associations and initiating meetings with Public Sector representative bodies to promote effective re-use of PSI. CoPSO are also aware of various complaints/court cases on PSI re-use that have been given coverage within the UK AND does take steps through the issue of regular updates to ensure that members are aware of progress.

Council of Property Search Organisations VIEWS of the Council of Property Search Organisations on effective PSI re-use. In the view of CoPSO, both the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) and the Advisory Panel on Public sector Information (APPSI) are considered to be PSI Re-use champions promoting the means of effective re-use to the very best of their ability. There are also OTHER Trade Associations within the UK who champion effective re-use of PSI – Digital Content Forum (DCF) and LoCUS to name but two. There are a number of individuals such as David Worlock (DCF), Adrian Norman (Psiphon) and Christopher Corbin who have and continue ceaselessly to actively participate in the debate in ensuring that effective re-use of PSI becomes the NORM in the UK. The activities of these Government Bodies, Trade Associations and private individuals will ensure that the re-use of PSI remains high on the agenda, that effective re-use frameworks are initiated and that economic benefits will result.

Thank you for your attention