What is EUMETSAT Data Policy?

The Data Policy is based on the EUMETSAT Principles on Data Policy, as laid down in Council Resolution EUM/C/98/Res.IV and amended in Council Resolution EUM/C/57/05/Res. III.  These principles provide the legal framework for the use of the data, products and services derived from the EUMETSAT satellites and protect against unauthorised use.  All 'non-essential' data, as defined by the EUMETSAT Data Policy, are subject to a set of licensing terms and conditions.  The type of licence required will depend upon the selected 'Data Usage' and the set of 'Non-essential', or 'Licensed Data' you wish to receive.

EUMETSAT's Data Policy (PDF, 279 KB) 

What are Non-essential or Licensed Data?

The following table provides the list of the data subject to licensing terms and conditions:

Which type of 'Data Usage' is relevant for me?

The Data Policy provides a set of 'Data Usage' principles. During the registration process you are requested to select the 'Data Usage' most relevant to your intended use of the licensed data:

• Personal Use

  For the purposes of direct reception of Meteosat data, personal use by private individuals shall be treated under the definition of Educational Use. In such cases the same conditions apply as for educational users.

• Educational Use

  Any use of an item from the Meteosat Catalogue by a school, university, scientific institute or similar (private or institutional), solely for educational purposes, without transmission or redistribution of these data, products and services to any further third party, or use of them to generate a Value Added Service.

• Research Project

  Any project organised by a university, a scientific research institute or similar (private or institutional), for non-commercial research purposes only. A necessary condition for the recognition of non-commercial purposes is that all the results obtained are openly available at delivery costs only, without any delay linked to commercial objectives, and that the research itself is submitted for open publication.

• Broadcaster

  Those users who disseminate an item from the Meteosat Catalogue or images based on Meteosat Data through electronic public information systems including, but not limited to, internet, terrestrial and satellite transmissions.

• End User

  Those users who use an item from the Meteosat Catalogue for their own commercial, industrial or personal purposes and do not pass on such item to any further user or use it to generate a Value Added Service.

• Service Provider

  Those users who acquire an item from the Meteosat Catalogue in order to supply Value Added Services under specific licence conditions to third parties who are clearly identified and known to the Service Provider.

• NMS (National Meteorological Service)

  Service responsible at national level, in conformity with its legal status, for the gathering, classification and production of meteorological information in the national interest, and responsible at international level for participating in WMO programmes.

• Official Duty Use

  All activities which take place within the organisation of a NMS and external activities of a NMS resulting from legal, governmental or intergovernmental requirements relating to defence, civil aviation and the safety of life and property.

• Manufacturer

  Those users who manufacture receiving equipment for EUMETSAT Data and/or software to process these data. The usage of the EUMETSAT data is limited to testing of the receiving equipment or processing software.

  The GMES Core Service users have a separate set of data usage relevant to their activities.

What is the licensing process?

The licensing process forms part of the general registration process, please visit the EO Portal page

Based upon the information provided during the registration process, the most appropriate licence type is determined. Depending upon your Data Usage and your country of residence, you may be asked to acknowledge licensing terms and conditions online as part of this registration process. Alternatively, you will be requested to counter-sign a printed licence provided by EUMETSAT, or one of the Member State/Cooperating State Licensing Agents.

My licence is about to expire. Can I renew it?

Typically a licence for the use of near real-time data is valid for a period of up to three years. Some licences, e.g. licences for the use of archived data, are valid for an indefinite period. All time-limited licences can be renewed subject to the re-acceptance of the relevant licensing terms and conditions. To renew your licence, please log in to the EO Portal and navigate to your 'Licences'. From here you can request a licence renewal.