Distribution and pricing policy for GTK's Digital geographical information

As Finland’s national geodata centre, GTK provides added value to its interest groups by distributing information on the geology of Finland. To do this, GTK operates as: 1) a public service organisation and 2) an organisation providing contract based services.

In its public service role, GTK offers general information and data services for all interested parties over the Internet. Private and company-internal use of this material is free of charge, but GTK requires that it be referenced without exception as the source if this material is redistributed (minimum, Source: GTK <year>). Commercial use must always be agreed on with GTK. In addition to this free material, GTK also offers its interest groups the use of reasonably-priced information products. These can be found in GTK’s product price list. Customers are charged the price of the product plus transfer costs.

The Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State applies to the use and distribution of all other data, and use must always be based on a contract between GTK and the customer. Prices are based on the man-hours required to collect and handle the material, plus transfer costs. GTK’s key goals are: 1) customer equality and 2) to ensure the quality (sufficient metadata) and reliability of material received by customers.

Customers should always familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of use pertaining to the material they acquire, regardless of whether that material has been obtained free of charge or has been paid for. The terms and conditions of use for material distributed over the Internet can be found on GTK’s website.

GTK is continually developing its material distribution and pricing, taking into account current government guidelines and goals of the national strategy for geographic information.