Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Wednesday, December 14, 2011 0:37 am TWN, Reuters

Sponsors
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.

EU Commission launches legislation for cheaper, easier public data access

BRUSSELS--The European Commission presented legislation on Monday to open up access to public sector data, in a move that could prove valuable to developers of smartphone applications such as maps or restaurant finders.

If approved, the law could generate an additional 40 billion euros (US$53 billion) in economic activity in the EU each year, the Commission said. For example, transport and construction companies may benefit from easier access to weather information and geographical data could be tailored for smartphones.

“Taxpayers have already paid for this information, the least we can do is give it back to those who want to use it in new ways that help people and create jobs and growth,” said Neelie Kroes, the EU commissioner for digital technology policy.

The draft law states that the price of access to public information should be no more than the cost of releasing and reproducing that data. It aims to standardize rules governing access to public data by individuals and companies across the 27-nation bloc and may be in place by 2013.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here