Should IGRF data be commercialized

At the 1989 International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy meeting in Exeter, U.K., a proposal was presented to support geomagnetic observatories in the Third World by charging commercial users of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field a price for its use. The proposal guarantees research scientists free access to IGRF. Seven British companies have contracted to pay $1 million as an expression of the concern of the commercial world to maintain a high standard of accuracy in IGRF. The IAGA executive committee rejected the proposal and at the final plenary session, that decision was upheld 29 to 14 in a scientific vote of all delegates present, a poll representing about 5% of the IAGA population. The main objection to the proposal was that the sale by contract would create an infringement of scientific liberty.