Re: [Fsfe-uk] [OT-ish] Government food data

[Graham Seaman]

Graham Seaman wrote:

> The actual reply from HMSO was:
>
> "The Composition of Foods 6th Edition is available as follows:
>
> a) in printed format - published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, 
> price £45;
> b) in electronic format - as an excel spreadsheet, price £75 -this 
> version is held by HMSO. (The Nutrient Databank i.e. Composition of 
> Foods 6th Edition + Supplements is £300 - see attached list)
>
> To re-use the information from either of the above you require a 
> licence and an annual royalty/fee would be charged. The charge would 
> be dependant on the amount of information being re-used."

After some more discussion with HMSO (who I suspect are unhappy about 
the idea of me approaching them via my MP, which I suggested), they've 
agreed I can have a free license to use and redistribute the 
carbohydrate data only. That probably isn't all I 'll need in the end 
(I'm still learning about how diabetes works), but it seems like a good 
start. I know it lets the HMSO off the hook, since they can say they 
haven't changed their policy (what they're allowing is just the 
equivalent of fair use quotation, but in the context of database rights 
rather than traditional copyright), but it seems more practical to stick 
here and ask for more later if I can show I need it, rather than 
insisting on all or nothing now.

So it is worth keeping on pestering them over this type of issue. The 
more the better ;-)


Graham