Even though...

• Online access to public records can greatly reduce front-counter costs
• "Direct costs of duplication" for computer data are minimal
• Incremental cost of providing online access are miniscule! Usually, costs to bill for, collect and account for per-record access far exceed the actual incremental cost of online duplication, itself!

But it's an ultimate "business" opportunity for govt!

• The commodity [data] is taken under force of law.
• The originators of the commodity are never paid for providing it.
• The commodity is collected and computerized at tax-payer expense.
• There's only one peddler - the government agency, a legal monopoly.
• Citizens and businesses often required to use the monopolized data.