According to the Ordnance Survey, OS OpenSpace is intended to promote free and open access to Ordnance Survey data (which is in general relatively expensive) via the OS OpenSpace API to application developers. This means that a variety of organizations including entrepreneurs and commercial organizations can develop applications using the OS OpenSpace API that use OS data without charge subject only to a maximum daily usage restriction. The OS appears to have taken a leaf out of the Google business model, which allows you to develop mashups using Google’s API that access Google data (often licensed from commercial sources) free of charge, but does not permit you to download or otherwise access the raw data.
OS OpenSpace applications must be free and open. They must be “publicly accessible on the internet and not restricted or protected by password, username, membership or firewalls”, and “cannot be used in the ordinary day-to-day activities involved with the internal administration of a business.” Advertising on OS OpenSpace web applications is permitted, but no charge can be made for use of applications developed using OS OpenSpace.
Be the first to comment