(1) Where authorities employ publicly accessible networks to make data available, an interest in the use of which is to be expected, in particular further use within the meaning of the Act on the Further Use of Information Held by Public Bodies (Informationsweiterverwendungsgesetz), machine-readable formats shall be used as a general principle. A format is machine-readable when the contained data can be read and processed in automated mode by means of corresponding software. The data should be provided with metadata.
(2) The Federal Government shall be authorized to stipulate regulations for use of the data pursuant to sub-section 1 via statutory instruments with the approval of the Bundesrat. The provisions on use should cover commercial and non-commercial use. In particular, they should regulate the scope of use, conditions of use, exclusions of liability and exclusions of warranty. It shall not be possible to enact any regulations on payments.
(3) Regulations in other legislation regarding technical formats in which data are to be made available shall take precedence where they ensure machine-readability.
(4) Sub-section 1 shall apply to data created prior to 31 July 2013 only where such data are in machine-readable formats.
(5) Sub-section 1 shall not apply insofar as it conflicts with the rights of third parties, in particular the Länder.