{
 "topic": "FOIA section 7(1)(i) - Valuable formulae, designs, and research data",
 "statute": "5 ILCS 140/7(1)(i)",
 "family": "FOIA exemptions (section 7)",
 "page": "https://illinoisfoia.org/issues/foia-7-1-i/",
 "note": "Determination letters are non-binding. Verify against the source PDF before citing.",
 "counts": {
  "violation_found": 2,
  "no_violation": 1,
  "no_determination": 0,
  "other": 0
 },
 "challenge_notes": null,
 "issues": [
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of band numbers and locations as research data",
   "outcome": "no_violation",
   "rule": "Band numbers and banding locations are research data exempt from disclosure because release could reasonably be expected to produce private gain or public loss.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Waterfowl banding locations and identification numbers",
    "date": "2025-02-10",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-83854/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Southern Illinoisan v. Illinois Department of Public Health, 218 Ill. 2d 390, 415 (2006)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401, 407 (1997)",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Nelson v. Kendall County, 2014 IL 116303, ¶ 23",
     "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/cases/2013%20IL%20App%20(2d)%20120635/"
    },
    {
     "text": "Lacey v. Village of Palatine, 232 Ill. 2d 349, 363 (2009)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Redaction of scoring values under valuable formulae exemption",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "Assigned scores are not valuable formulae or research data, and the risk of misuse by unscrupulous facilities is too speculative to show private gain or public loss.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Staff Intensity Scale scores for intermediate care facilities",
    "date": "2018-12-04",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-52452/"
   },
   "authorities": [
    {
     "text": "Binding Opinion 14-016",
     "url": null
    },
    {
     "text": "Lieber v. Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, 176 Ill. 2d 401, 407 (1997)",
     "url": null
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "issue": "Section 7(1)(i) exemption for valuable formulae and research data",
   "outcome": "violation_found",
   "rule": "The Department's generalized and conclusory explanation did not establish that disclosure could reasonably be expected to produce private gain or public loss, and it failed to identify which exemptions apply to which records.",
   "decision": {
    "title": "Records on gating Griffith Cave and Natural Heritage Database access",
    "date": "2018-10-30",
    "binding": false,
    "url": "https://illinoisfoia.org/opinions/letter-49942/"
   },
   "authorities": []
  }
 ]
}