Comments for Holistic Reporting

Comment on Is your sustainability reporting software illegal? by Stewart McKie

Stewart McKie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:59:06 +0000

Elaine – Fair enough. However, my reading of ‘other organizations’ is any organization other than the GRI, not just software companies. Most organizations currently develop their own software or tools to display the GRI Index report on their websites. Those that don’t should only ‘legally’ be using one of the 3 certified apps. I think you can guess that my point here is for some clarity, especially when you look at the other examples I’ve listed on the linked page.

Comment on GRI and Software Certification by Danile Roberts

Danile Roberts — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:31:23 +0000

Stewart,

Some additional comments:

In your first bullet point you say: “Companies reporting GRI indicators using software tools (i.e. publishing their GRI index on a website) have to be certified for using the GRI – after all why should they be exempted?”

In effect the creator of the GRI report will be paying a fee, as the s/w providers fee will be built into the fee charged to the user of the s/w. In effect this makes the GRI content no longer free to use, unless you do so “handrolically”. All certification fees, licenses, or other fees get passed on in one way or another.

You also say “I can understand the ‘quality control’ justification for a certification process that puts a stamp of approval on a certified application for extra consumer reassurance. But a fee? Why? And in all the scenarios above?”

This might almost be acceptable except that on the same page the GRI also states that “Certification does not guarantee that usage of any software or tool containing GRI content will produce a GRI report.”

This kind of make a mockery of the entire purpose of certification.

Comment on Is your sustainability reporting software illegal? by elaine cohen

elaine cohen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:38:22 +0000

hi , i think you are splitting hairs. The GRI has no problem with people using the GRI index in a printed or online report. This certification is intended for those who are developing software as third party vendors. This is what the GRI says

“The aim of the GRI Certified Software and Tools Program is to enable authorized use of GRI’s copyright protected content in software and tools developed by other organizations. The certification will verify that the content is correctly applied.”

As far as I can tell, anyway

elaine
http://www.csr-reporting.blogspot.com

Comment on GRI and Software Certification by Stewart McKie

Stewart McKie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:51:17 +0000

It has also been pointed out (thanks Daniel) that the certification fee and the annual copyright licensing fee could be a show-stopper for startup software companies, representing a barrier to entry, acting as a restriction on the spread of the GRI indicators.

Comment on GRI and Software Certification by Stewart McKie

Stewart McKie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:38:46 +0000

It was also pointed out that the GHG protocol ‘content’ is not charged for in this way either (thanks Chris) and nor for that matter are the UK Government’s comprehensive DEFRA environmental indicator set.