Legal category of «information resources»: conceptual aspects

In the article analyzes conceptual approaches to the study the content of the term «information resource», undefined in current Russian legislation but, however, used in some regulations. The authors pay attention to the specific content of information law basic terms basing on the evolutionary stages of formation of the appropriate categories. They note that research of «information resource» concept specificity should be founded on analysis of its legal nature, and supposes constructing the conceptual line based on «information» category. Analysis of the definitions given in various sources enables to state that structure of information resources includes any arbitrary information, or its subset, and different authors sometimes use incommensurable criteria to highlight it. The article justifies the necessity to improve state policy concerning information resources as well as facilities and processes related to the latter. It is argued that clear legal regulation in sphere of information law and inclusion of the notion of «information resource» to the current information law will ensure stability of Russian information complex government. It is caused by the fact that the rapid development of the global information network currently enables data transmission to almost unlimited distances in large enough volumes and in the shortest possible time, which is followed by the necessity to improve public policy concerning information resources as well as facilities and processes related to the latter. The authors note the need to minimize the cross-use of information and legal definitions in the system of legal regulation of public relations at the present stage and the further improvement of the conceptual and theoretical basis of informatization in Russia.

information resource, information, documented information, information medium, information complex, law informatization, regulation