The main Census geography products are included in the scope of Census Access, and, with the possible exception of the recovery of material costs, are free at the point of use. The Output Area boundaries are in part derived from Ordnance Survey material and the terms and conditions for the use of the vector boundaries which also cover the Ordnance Survey interests must be accepted before use. These do not restrict use of the vector boundaries within an organisation or use jointly by organisations which have each accepted the terms of the licence. But there are some circumstances, particularly use of the vector boundaries for financial gain, where a further licence from Ordnance Survey may be necessary. Census Customer Services should be contacted in any case of doubt.
The conditions are HERE and should be examined before use of the products.
In general terms, viewable (raster or hard copy) boundaries may be used without restriction and copied subject only to the acknowledgement of Crown copyright and source. Standard Ordnance Survey conditions apply to the copying of underlying topographical maps.
In general terms, re-usable (vector) boundaries may be used on acceptance of the condition of the licence
in any organisation, in the public or private sectors, for internal business purposes
by any individual consumer for their private use
jointly between any licence holders or by a contractor for a licence holder
and may be published to promote public or commercial services provided this is not for financial gain and the use of the boundaries is secondary to the user's services and business activities and is not a service or business activity in itself, but, in Ordnance Survey terms, the boundary data may not be modified, altered, decompiled, reverse engineered, or disassembled beyond what is necessary for permitted use or to extract the Ordnance Survey elements in the data.
Such permitted use would include, for example, joint use of Output Areas boundaries in vector form by a local and health authority to prepare maps of Census results to illustrate a report published in any media covering broader subjects relating to the services provided by the authorities. But it would not include use of Output Areas in vector form in a mapping facility in a package sold for marketing applications, where an additional Ordnance Survey licence would be required.
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