Defra Data Services Platform: Overview of Licences

Created: 06 December 2018 Updated: 04 November 2024

You must check the licence conditions for any dataset you want to use.  Licence information is provided in the metadata for each dataset under the ‘Licence’ section heading on each dataset page. This will usually state which licence and permissions you need to check before using the data.

Most datasets on the Defra Data Services Platform are issued under an Open Government Licence (OGL) or under a Conditional Licence.  

Open Government Licence

If a dataset is marked as available to use under an Open Government Licence,  you can check the terms of this licence here: Open Government Licence

Environment Agency Conditional Licence

If the data is available for use under an Environment Agency Conditional Licence, then you will need to check which conditions and warnings apply here: Environment Agency Conditional Licence

Special conditions may also apply to some datasets. If applicable, these will be published under the ‘Use constraints’ section heading.

Natural England Non-Commercial Government Licence

If data is marked as available to use under a Natural England Non-Commercial Government Licence, you will need to check which conditions and warnings apply here: Non-Commercial Government Licence

Natural England’s Maps and Data Terms of Use

If data is made available under Natural England’s Maps and Data Terms of Use, statutory guidance must be checked here: Terms of use for Natural England’s Maps and Data

Ordnance Survey Licence

If the data is marked as available for use under an Ordnance Survey licence, the exact licence for its use will vary depending on who you are and your intended use of the data. You can check the licence conditions for OS data here.

Rural Payments Agency Land Parcels, Land Covers and Hedge Control datasets

Licence details for these datasets are available here: Licence conditions: RPA Land Parcels, Land Covers And Hedge Controls Datasets.

UKCEH Licence

If you download any UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology datasets from the Data Services Platform, the exact licence for their use will vary depending on who you are and your intended use of the data. You can check licence conditions for the use of UKCEH data here

If No Specific Licence is Named

Where no specific licence is named in the metadata, the licence terms can vary as follows:

Defra Staff, and bodies which are part of the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA)

If you are registered on the Defra Data Services Platform as Defra-body Staff or a PSGA member, re-use of this dataset is permitted under the Environment Agency Conditional licence:  Environment Agency Conditional licence

Environment Agency Partners and Contractors

If you are registered on the Defra Data Services Platform as a WFD/CaBA/IDB partner or a Defra-body contractor and you require the downloaded data to fulfil a contract with the Environment Agency, or if your work supports the achievement of the Environment Agency’s statutory functions, re-use of this dataset is permitted under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence:  Environment Agency Conditional licence

Partners and Contractors of other Defra Bodies

If you are registered on the Defra Data Services Platform as a WFD/CaBA/IDB partner or a Defra-body contractor and you require the downloaded data to fulfil a contract with a Defra body other than the Environment Agency, or if your work supports the achievement of this body’s statutory functions, then you must contact them to acquire a licence before the data can be used.

Licensing Data for Contractor Use

We are sometimes asked to supply data to contractors of another organisation, such as a water company or a local authority.  It is not possible to supply data to them via the DSP or directly. We can only license the contracting organisation, and they need to sub-license the data to their contractor (any legal risk is borne by the contracting organisation).

If you are unsure which licence applies to you and your use of the data, please contact us for advice via our DSP Support page.