Details of development costs and revenue from smartphone applications

Matthew Hunt made this Official Information request to Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

The request was refused by Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited.

From: Matthew Hunt

Dear Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited,

I would like to make a request for any information available (including emails, memos, receipts or
facsimiles) on the costs of developing the MetService smartphone applications (particularly the iPhone application) and the revenue received from sale of the applications.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Hunt.

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From: Jacqui Bridges
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

Dear Matthew,

 

Thank you for your request.

 

MetService is a State-Owned Enterprise and, as such, operates as a
commercial company.  We are therefore declining your request on the basis
that releasing this information would very likely prejudice our commercial
position with regard to the development and sale of these applications. 
This is in accordance with Section 9(2)(b) of the Official Information Act
(1982).

 

If you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact me.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jacqui Bridges

General Manager Communications

MetService and MetraWeather

 

30 Salamanca Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012

PO Box 722, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

t +64 4 4700 700

[1]metservice.com  .  [2]metraweather.com  .  Follow [3]MetService and
[4]MetraWeather on LinkedIn

Winner of the 3M Traffic Safety Innovation Award 2011

 

MetraWeather is Metra Information (Australia) Pty Limited [ACN 126 850
904] and Metra Information Limited [Registered in England & Wales No.
FC025913, No.BR008148. VAT Reg. No. 854 8604 96] – both wholly-owned
subsidiaries of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
(MetService) – ISO 9001 Certified.

This email and any accompanying documentation may contain privileged and
confidential information.  If you are not the intended recipient, your use
of the information is prohibited.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Matthew Hunt <[5][OIA #584 email]>

Subject: Official Information Act request - Details of development costs
and revenue from smartphone applications

Date: 28 September 2012 11:25:28 AM NZST

To: OIA requests at Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited
<[6][Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited request email]>

 

    Dear Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited,

    I would like to make a request for any information available
    (including emails, memos, receipts or
    facsimiles) on the costs of developing the MetService smartphone
    applications (particularly the iPhone application) and the revenue
    received from sale of the applications.

    Yours faithfully,

    Matthew Hunt.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
    [7][OIA #584 email]

    Is [8][Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited request email] the wrong address for Official
    Information Act requests to Meteorological Service of New Zealand
    Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
    [9]http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact

    Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
    published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
    [10]http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

    If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
    web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.metservice.com/
http://www.metservice.com/about/about
2. http://www.metraweather.com/
3. http://www.linkedin.com/company/metservice
4. http://www.linkedin.com/company/metrawea...
5. mailto:[OIA #584 email]
6. mailto:[Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited request email]
7. mailto:[OIA #584 email]
8. mailto:[Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited request email]
9. http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact
10. http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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From: Matthew Hunt

Dear Jacqui Bridges,

Thank you for your response to my information request. I understand your reservations about divulging the requested information.

I would like to request what percentage of the development costs of the MetService application for iOS have been recouped by sales of the application.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hunt

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From: Jacqui Bridges
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited

Dear Matthew,

The information you have requested below is also commercial in confidence. Accordingly, we are declining your request on the same grounds as previously advised - that releasing this information would very likely prejudice our commercial position with regard to the development and sale of these applications. This is in accordance with Section 9(2)(b) of the Official Information Act (1982).

If you have any further questions of a non-commercially sensitive nature, you are welcome to contact me.

Kind regards,

Jacqui Bridges
General Manager Communications
MetService and MetraWeather
 
30 Salamanca Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012
PO Box 722, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
t +64 4 4700 700
metservice.com  .  metraweather.com  . Follow MetService and MetraWeather on LinkedIn

Winner of the 3M Traffic Safety Innovation Award 2011
 
MetraWeather is Metra Information (Australia) Pty Limited [ACN 126 850 904] and Metra Information Limited [Registered in England & Wales No. FC025913, No.BR008148. VAT Reg. No. 854 8604 96] – both wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited (MetService) – ISO 9001 Certified.
This email and any accompanying documentation may contain privileged and confidential information.  If you are not the intended recipient, your use of the information is strictly prohibited.

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From: Matthew Hunt

Dear Jacqui Bridges,

I find your lack of openness disappointing and insulting. There is no possible commercial sensitivity for the single figure requested in my previous message. I do not believe that you have acted on the OIA requests that I have made in good faith.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hunt

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From: Matthew Hunt

Dear Jacqui Bridges,

On reading the information held by the Ombudsman, I believe that you are required to give a more considered response to my request than you have so far deemed fit.

http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/syste...

Please provide a justification for withholding any information pertaining to my requests. I would draw your attention in particular to this advice:

- The Ombudsmen are of the view that, in order to be "commercial", activities must be undertaken for the purpose of making a profit.

- Identify the prejudice that would likely result to that commercial position if the requested information were to be made available. The agency must be able to explain precisely how the predicted harm or damage
would be likely to result if the requested information was released. This includes the possibility of future harm, which, at the present time, might not be quantifiable.

- Assess how likely it is that disclosure of the requested information would cause the predicted prejudice to occur. A simple assertion that the release of the information would be likely to prejudice
the commercial position of the person to whom the information relates is not sufficient.

- Explain why that prejudice would be unreasonable.

- Explain why disclosure of the requested information would be so likely to cause the predicted prejudice that it is necessary to withhold it. The agency must demonstrate that the prejudice or harm is so likely to occur that it is necessary to withhold the information in order to prevent that prejudice or harm from arising. A mere possibility that the prejudice could occur is not sufficient to meet the requirement under section 9 that the withholding of the information is necessary.

I would appreciate a considered response to my enquiries.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Hunt

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From: Jacqui Bridges
Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited


Attachment OIA Letter Matthew Hunt 15 Oct 2012.pdf
417K Download View as HTML


Dear Matthew - please find our response attached.

Regards
Jacqui

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