Many people will be aware of the launch of "OS OpenData" in April 2010. However, this does not mean that all the Ordnance Survey data is now available free of charge.
Only selected datasets were released at that time. The most popular map series for print publication (the 1:25,000 scale maps) were not included, nor were postcode sector boundaries. The result is therefore a compromise - not quite all that The Guardian had campaigned for (in its "Free Our Data" campaign).
Nonetheless it creates opportunities for Ordnance Survey. There is now an opportunity to provide some data for nothing, and to provide more detailed data for payment - a standard content licensing technique.
Plus, of course, Ordnance Survey continues to be a convenient place where a lot of place-related information can be found, for example rights of way. Whether this information is free or paid, it is highly convenient (and valuable) that OS can provide this data along with its owned mapping information.
