Outline of the GTK data policy

GTK is a national centre of geoscientific data, and it offers its data content for the use of all interested parties. GTK's distribution policy is based on the following objectives:

1. making a difference in society
2. equality and the equal treatment of customers
3. high quality of the materials offered to customers (with adequate descriptions of the materials), reliability and adequate guidance

As a part of its role as a public service provider, GTK makes its widely used standard scale materials available to all, free of charge and with unrestricted rights (GTK Open licence). GTK also offers reasonably priced information products. For customers' information requests that concern materials not included in standardised products, the Finnish Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State is applied, and the terms of use for the materials are defined in an agreement signed with the customer.

GTK's numeric data materials are divided into the following categories based on availability:

1. Open content (information products distributed according to the principles of open data)
2. INSPIRE materials (information products distributed in accordance with the INSPIRE terms)
3. Other materials not subject to a charge (online distribution of information materials free of charge)
4. Materials liable to charge (priced information products)
5. Materials not included in standardised products

The data products and their terms of use are listed in GTK's product catalogue. Materials included in categories 1, 2 and 3 and delivered online are available for use free of charge, but GTK requires that the contractual terms related to a product are followed.

The customer must always carefully read the terms of use for the acquired materials regardless of whether the materials are free of charge or not.

GTK continuously develops the distribution and pricing of its products in accordance with the general guidelines of the state administration and the objectives of the National Geographic Information Strategy.

For further information, please contact: Director, Digital Innovations and Corporate Data Mikko Eklund and Senior Specialist Antti Kahra