Overcoming technical challenges in developing a global free-access legal information system for research - the WorldLII experience

摘要

If we assume (a) the desirability of and the demand for a global free-access legal information system (LIS); (b) thedesirability of a non-government and non-profit provider; and (c) the severe financial constraints imposed on thedevelopment of such a system by the free-access requirement, this dissertation asks (i) is such a goal technicallyachievable and sustainable, to a satisfactory standard and within a realistic time-frame; (ii) if there are noinsurmountable obstacles, which model(s) of technical development are most appropriate; and (iii) what are theprincipal technical impediments remaining?The aim of this dissertation is to investigate and identify the technical and practical problems likely to be encounteredin developing a global web-based free-access LIS for research, and to identify solutions to those problems sufficientto make the task achievable and sustainable within a free-access model. This dissertation does not focus on thepolitical and economic issues, assuming as givens both the desire for cooperation and minimal sustainable fundingdespite severe funding constraints.The approach adopted is to examine each of the key stages in developing such an LIS in light of the imposedconstraints. These include data collection, processing and markup, web publication, searching, interface andlanguage issues. While grounded in technical literature, this dissertation is informed by professional experience andthe practical lessons learnt in developing and maintaining the World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII) and othermulti-country legal information institutes (LIIs). It is also informed by the experiences of other free-access LIIs andother providers from around the world.A broad approach is needed so that the technical challenges in developing such an LIS as a whole can beconsidered, while focusing on the key problems and their solutions. The result obtained from this examination andthe principal conclusion of the dissertation is that such a system is achievable and sustainable within the necessaryfinancial constraints, and that the model of technical development most likely to be successful is a decentralisedmulti-layer network of national or multi-country LIIs of reasonable technical consistency (the 'hybrid distributed'model). Some unresolved issues are identified but found not to be intractable. No such attempt to develop a globalsolution has previously been attempted, nor such a solution previously advanced.