Metadata contactInfo: onlineResource as alternative to electronicMailAddress

[danicgc]

Dear all,
The INSPIRE Metadata Implementing Rules requires electronicMailAddress as mandatory (within the contactInfo element), but some organisations provide contact forms (https...) instead of e-mail addresses, probably to avoid spam and/or to improve message management.
The ISO 19115 allows onlineResource as another way to contact the organisation (besides e-mail, postal address, etc.).
We propose to expand the INSPIRE Metadata Implementing Rules to this option, as a possible alternative to the electronicMailAddress for that cases where organisations do not have e-mail but contact forms. This means using electronicMailAddress OR onlineResource in contactInfo.
Thanks,

[heidivanparys]

Adding the exact location in the Metadata Implementing Rules for further reference:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02008R1205-20081224#tocId43

9.1. Responsible party

This is the description of the organisation responsible for the establishment, management, maintenance and distribution of the resource.

This description shall include:

— the name of the organisation as free text,

— a contact e-mail address as a character string.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02008R1205-20081224#tocId46

10.1. Metadata point of contact

This is the description of the organisation responsible for the creation and maintenance of the metadata.

This description shall include:

— the name of the organisation as free text,

— a contact e-mail address as a character string.

[sMorrone]

Dear @danicgc, @heidivanparys
I am moving this issue (indeed a change proposal to Metadata Implementing Rules and, consequently, to MD TG) to the TG repository issue tracker.

[sMorrone]

Subgroup meeting on 13.09.2022:
for the evaluation of this change proposal, the sub-group decided to seek the support of the MIG-T experts, and invites them to provide feedback directly as comments to this GitHub issue.

[fabiovinci]

Subgroup meeting on 17.04.2023:

considering the additional change proposal requesting the same change, the Subgroup approved this change proposal.