Manchester Open Data Licensing and Bylaw Terms

Technology and Data England 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of England
Manchester, England publishes many public datasets to support transparency, services and civic reuse. This guide explains the licence commonly applied to council data, how reuse must be credited, practical steps for lawful reuse, and how the council and national instruments interact to govern reuse in Manchester. It is aimed at developers, businesses, researchers and community groups who need to understand attribution, permitted uses, and complaint and enforcement pathways when working with Manchester data.

Licensing overview

Most Manchester datasets are published for reuse under the UK Open Government Licence (OGL) or under terms indicated on the individual dataset page; the council’s open data guidance explains dataset publication and any local terms that apply[1]. The OGL permits copying, publishing, distributing and adapting the information provided attribution is given and any specified exclusions are respected[2].

Always include the required attribution statement when reusing council data.

Penalties & Enforcement

Financial penalties for breaches of open data licence terms are not specified on the cited council or licence pages; enforcement is typically a matter of contractual or copyright remedy rather than fixed by a local fine schedule[1][2].

  • Financial penalties: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: first response usually a request to comply; repeat or persistent misuse may lead to civil action or injunctions where applicable, not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: takedown notices, corrective orders, or injunctions under intellectual property law; not specified on the cited page.
  • Enforcer and complaints: Manchester City Council corporate information / open data contacts handle notices and enquiries; see the council open data guidance for contact routes[1].
  • Appeals/review: internal council review and ordinary court remedies; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited pages.
Report suspected breaches to the council’s information governance contact or the dataset publisher page.

Applications & Forms

No special permit or application form is required to reuse datasets published under the Open Government Licence; users must follow the licence terms and any dataset-specific notices on the council dataset page[1][2]. If a dataset has restricted access the dataset page will state procedures to request access.

Common violations

  • Failure to attribute the source as required by the licence.
  • Misrepresenting data provenance or implying council endorsement.
  • Publishing personal data or otherwise breaching data protection obligations when reuse is not lawful.
If in doubt about personal data in a dataset, consult the publisher before reuse.

Action steps

  • Locate the dataset on the Manchester open data catalogue and read the dataset notes and licence statement[1].
  • Record the dataset name, publisher, licence version and the exact attribution text you will use.
  • If you discover misuse, contact the dataset publisher via the council open data contact page and preserve evidence.

FAQ

Is Manchester open data free to reuse?
Yes. Many Manchester datasets are published for reuse under the Open Government Licence which allows copying, publishing and commercial reuse subject to attribution and any dataset-specific conditions[2].
Can I reuse datasets that contain personal data?
Personal data is subject to data protection law and may be excluded from open publication; the council’s dataset pages or publisher notes indicate when data is restricted. Specific protections and obligations are not fully specified on the cited open data page and you should seek advice if personal data is involved[1].
Who do I contact about licence interpretation or takedown?
Contact the Manchester City Council open data or information governance contact listed on the dataset page; the council’s open data guidance provides contact routes[1].

How-To

  1. Find the dataset on the Manchester open data catalogue and read the dataset metadata and licence statement.
  2. Note the required attribution and any excluded fields or special conditions listed on the dataset page.
  3. Check for personal data or licensing exceptions and, if present, contact the dataset publisher before reuse.
  4. Include the correct attribution statement wherever you publish or distribute derived work.
  5. Keep records of the dataset source, licence version and date of download for audit and compliance.
Keep a copy of the licence text and the dataset metadata with any published derivative work.

Key Takeaways

  • Many Manchester datasets are published under the Open Government Licence; attribution is required.
  • There are no council-prescribed fixed fines on the cited pages; enforcement focuses on compliance and legal remedies.
  • Contact the council’s open data publisher or information governance team for questions or to report misuse.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Manchester City Council open data guidance and catalogue
  2. [2] Open Government Licence v3 (National Archives)
  3. [3] Manchester City Council on data.gov.uk

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