The Open Government Licence (OGL) is a simple set of terms and conditions that facilitates the re-use of a wide range of public sector information free of charge. It is machine-readable and supports rights expression language. The OGL is also available in Welsh.
There is no need to register or apply to use the OGL. Users simply need to ensure that their use of information complies with OGL terms.
We do not maintain a list of who is using information under the OGL because users do not need to register for a licence. However the OGL states that users should, where possible, provide a link back to the OGL. This means that it is possible to search for online works using information under the OGL. For further information on how to use information made available under the OGL please see our guidance for users.
Government departments and public sector bodies making their information available for use under the OGL should follow the guidance for information providers.
The OGL requires you to attribute the information provider and source of the information.
Personal data
The OGL does not cover the use of personal data. Anyone re-using personal data must comply with the Data Protection Principles set out in Article 5 of the UK GDPR. Guidance on the general application of Data Protection Law can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website.
Compatibility with other licences
The OGL terms are compatible with the latest versions of the Creative Commons Attribution License and the Open Data Commons Attribution License. This means that when the information is adapted and licensed under either of those licences, you automatically meet the conditions of the OGL as long as you comply with the terms of the other licence.
The OGL is a perpetual licence so any past and continuing use of information authorised under v1.0 or v2.0 may continue. The only exception to this would be if the terms of either licence were breached; this would result in the licence being terminated.
Information providers will specify which version of the OGL applies to their information. The terms and conditions of the three versions are in essence the same, with v3.0 introducing some refinements and clarifications.
The OGL superseded the PSI Click-Use Licence in 2010. Any information subject to Crown copyright that was available under the PSI Click-Use licence may now be re-used under the OGL.
The Open Government Licence provides a simple way to facilitate the free re-use of public sector information. It is the default licence for Crown bodies, and recommended for all public sector bodies. Crown bodies seeking to license information under other terms must obtain a Delegation of Authority from the Keeper.