These new regulations do not affect access to information through the Freedom of Information Act. Likewise, any information that is deemed exempt under FOI will not be available through the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations.

To distinguish between the PSI regulations and Freedom of Information Act simply:

• FOI is about access to information and does not give an automatic right to re-use the information

• PSI Regulations permit the re-use of local authority information and may involve licensing and charging for the re-use of our documents if that re-use is for commercial gain

We already make huge amounts of information available for re-use in the form of electronic documents, leaflets and hard copies of publications. The majority of this information may be re-used free of charge providing our copyright is acknowledged. Where any charges or other terms and conditions apply for re-use, such as licensing, these will be notified in our catalogue of information.

The material featured in this catalogue is subject to Dorset County Council copyright protection, unless stated otherwise. You may reproduce our copyright protected content, free of charge, without specific permission, provided you are not reproducing it for profit, material or financial gain. You must reproduce the material accurately and not use it in a misleading context. If you are republishing the material or issuing it to others, you must acknowledge its source, copyright status and date of publication if known. The permission to reproduce Dorset County Council copyright protected material does not extend to any material that is identified as being the copyright of a third party. You must seek authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holder concerned.

The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) takes the lead for the UK implementation of The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005. They are at the heart of information policy, setting standards and providing a practical framework for the re-use of information. For full details of the regulations and guidance, click on the link to the OPSI website.

• Name: Freedom of Information Officer (Dorset County Council)
  Email: foi@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 225191
  Full details for Freedom of Information Officer (Dorset County Council)
• Name: Freedom of Information Officer (Christchurch)
  Email: foi@christchurch.gov.uk
  Tel: 01202 495002
  Full details for Freedom of Information Officer (Christchurch)
• Name: Freedom of Information (East Dorset)
  Email: foi@eastdorset.gov.uk
  Full details for Freedom of Information (East Dorset)