Pay-to-view "open access" at CODATA?

Here’s a puzzle – maybe someone can help. A member of the Blue Obelisk has discovered the following site

science-softCon UV/Vis⁺ Spectra Data Base

Spectral information (gas, liquid and solid phase from EUV-VUV-UV-Vis-NIR) and related data (e.g.  information concerning publications on quantum yield studies or photolysis studies) from published papers.

The science-softCon “UV/Vis⁺ Spectra Data Base” on-line service was established in August 2000 and is subdivided into a Literature Service (this site) and a Spectra Service (see spectra-info). Both database services are operated in accordance to the “Open Access” definitions and regulations of the CSPR Assessment Panel on Scientific Data and Information (International Council for Science, 2004, ICSU Report of the CSPR Assessment Panel on Data and Information; ISBN 0-930357-60-4). In October 2004 an international “Scientific Advisory Group” (SAG) for the “UV/Vis⁺ Spectra Data Base” was established. 
On UV/Vis News you will find information concerning the “UV/Vis⁺ Spectra Data Base”.

PMR: For non-readers of this blog, spectra are data points relating to the identification or properties of chemical compounds. We’ve had some fun arguments about whether Open Data resources such as NMRShiftDB can be of high quality. You know my views. So a new OPEN ACCESS database of spectra! Great!
Off we go to Aromatic Compounds (benzene, naphthalene and friends). We find

science-softCon UV/Vis⁺ Spectra Data Base

Literature Service: Aromatic Compounds

Substances: Benzaldehyde, Benzene, Bisphenol A, Cresol, Dimethylbenzaldehyde, Dimethylphenol, Estradiol, Ethinyl Estradiol, Ethylbenzene, Naphthalene, Nitrosobenzene, Phenol, Phenyl radical, Styrene, Tolualdehyde, Toluene, Trimethylbenzol, Trimethylphenol, Xylene
The relevant Spectra Data are available (for registered users) at: Spectra Service

PMR: “Registered users”. Not exactly a cuddly term in the Open Access (or Open Data) world. Robots don’t like having to register. They don’t know how to press buttons. But maybe we can scrape soem data after we have got in. If it’s Open Access that should be fine. And we really really need these spectra. So off to registered users to find:

Select the Type of Usage:
Academic Working Group License, 100 EURO/per Year*
Academic Campus License, 200 EURO/per Year*

Commercial Working Group License, 200 EURO/per Year
Commercial Company License, 500 EURO/per Year

A EURO is a monetary unit adopted by many countries in Europe and is worth about sqrt(2.0) dollars. So just to make it clear, this is a pay-to-use “open access” database.
So who is running this? Perhaps they have never heard of Open Access. Here they are:

PMR: I know CODATA well. They are a high-level organisation of the International Council of Scientific Unions. I (and Henry) have published in their Open Access Journal, Data Science. They have done me the honour of inviting me several times to talk on XML, CML, Open Data and so on. They care passionately about data – they see access to data as being a key factor in saving the planet from various things it needs to be saved from. Here is an example:

14.2 Global Information Commons for Science
Ensuring and improving access to scientific data and information has been a long-term interest of ICSU and will continue to be a high priority for the future. However, as described in the PAA report, the internet and www have revolutionised the practice of science and provide new opportunities, as well as threats, to data and information access. In particular, there are conflicting tensions between commercialization of scientific data and moves towards open on-line access for both data and information.
‘Open access’ for science was a particularly hot topic at the World Summit on the Information Society (Geneva, 2003 and Tunis, 2005) in which ICSU was actively involved. As part of the summit process, the ICSU Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) took the lead in developing a Global Information Commons for Science Initiative (GICSI). This initiative directly responds to the summit action plan and also addresses many of the recommendation in the PAA report, albeit with a limited focus on access issues.
CSPR considered the merits of this proposal in the context of ICSU’s strategic aims in relation to data and information. It was noted that it is unusual, but not unprecedented, for ICSU to co-sponsor programmes with its own Members or Interdisciplinary Bodies, but a strong case for direct ICSU involvement would need to be made.
Committee members expressed support for the proposal, which clearly related to ICSU’s aims with regards to increasing access to data and information. However, it was not clear how this work fitted with CODATA’s future strategy. Potentially, CODATA was a key instrument for delivering on ICSU’s overall goal for scientific data and information but, as noted in the PAA report, it needed to make strategic choices as to its future priorities and direction. It was suggested that the best approach is for ICSU to endorse this GICSI initiative but not co-sponsor it, and for the SCID (see 14.1) to liaise with CODATA on the development of its strategic plan.

PMR: So here we have the clear commitment to access to data and the concept of  open access.
(I am still trying to find out what “CSPR” is after 10 web pages. In all the documents it seems to be assumed that the whole human race understands “CSPR”). Here’s the relevant page:

Working Group: UV/Vis+ Spectra Data Base

As approved by the CODATA Executive Committee Meeting, Paris, April 2005
Renewal approved by the CODATA Executive Committee, Paris, April 2007

View up-to-date information at http://www.uv-spectra.de/

In April 2005 the CODATA Working Group “UV/Vis+ Spectra Data Base” was established by the CODATA Executive Committee (Committee on Data for Science and Technology of the International Council for Science, ICSU) under the chairmanship of the CODATA President Prof. Dr. Shuichi Iwata.

The work of the CODATA working group is based on the “UV/Vis Spectra Data Base” (www.uv-spectra.de) which is on-line since August 2000. The “UV/Vis Spectra Data Base” is operated as an Open-Access database in accordance with the definitions and the regulations of the CSPR Assessment Panel on Scientific Data and Information [1].

The “+” in the name of the new database stands for the extension of the wavelength range (EUV-NIR), the provision of software and the integration of additional spectral data and information (e.g. SUMER Spectral Atlas of Solar Coronal Features, Dr. Curdt, MPI für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau; Daily Solar Spectral Irradiances, 1975-2004, Dr. Lean, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, USA; etc.)

Another important task of the working group is the data and information rescue. Many types of data, including extant “historical” data, are not being used for research because they are not available in digital formats and they are in danger of being lost.

There are both resource and technical limitations to data access in many parts of the world that not only make it difficult to conduct research, but also interfere with the collection of new data. This problem, which is called “digital divide”, is most evident in low- and mediumincome (industrialized) countries. The task of the CODATA working group is to reduce these limitations.

[…]

 [1] International Council for Science, 2004, ICSU Report of the CSPR Assessment Panel on Data and Information; ISBN 0-930357-60-4

PMR: So I am trying to find the definition of “open access” from CODATA. Unfortunately it seems to be buried in a paper report – I can’t find a web page easily. Nor can I find out what CSPR is. I shall have to adhere to what it says as they work very hard on their declarations.  If it turns out that a data base that requires payment is “open access” and that this terminology has been signed off by the Scientific Unions then maybe it’s time for a term.
Like Open Data?
[I have finally found that CSPR = Committee on Scientific Planning and Review – obvious when you know]