Legal Net gears up for metadataWEB SITES: scheme to promote common standards to improve search enginesThe government is to push ahead with introducing a metadata scheme a mechanism to enable the classification and location of legal Web sites and a...The government is to push ahead with introducing a metadata scheme a mechanism to enable the classification and location of legal Web sites and a supporting content classification scheme, after a favourable response to consultation.The aim of the metadata scheme is to promote common standards across legal Web sites, meaning that Internet search engines would be able accurately to locate the most relevant sites.

The content classification would provide the vocabulary used to support the scheme.Issuing a post-consultation report, Lord Chancellors Department minister David Lock said that, of the 35 responses received, most were broadly in favour...

However, we shall take all the comments into account when implementing our metadata proposals.Reservations highlighted by respondents included: the need to offer an incentive, such as a quality mark, for Web site owners to join in the scheme; the need for compatability with other government initiatives specifically the metadata working party of the Office of the e-envoy; the suggestion that priority needs to be given to the creation of content than to its classification; and concern that the Dublin Core (the proposed software programme to be used) is too simplified.Nicholas Bohm, a member of the Law Societys electronic commerce working party, agreed that Web site owners would need some incentive to carry out extra work themselves in order to be incorporated into the scheme.

Web site owners will not want to carry out this extra work unless they can be persuaded that it will increase the number of visitors to the site, or make people return, he said.

He also agreed that it was vital for the government to co-ordinate its different approaches to the scheme.

If the Office of the e-envoy is not working in co-ordination with the LCD already, then this is not a good advertisement for joined-up government, Mr Bohm said.

Mr Bohm added that the government had to be extremely careful in choosing the correct computer programme for the scheme.

A debate needs to be had as to the best classification system to use, he said.

If an over-simplified programme is used, then this will obviously be deeply unpopular.Victoria MacCallum