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Open

Open Standards

What is Open?

‘Open Knowledge’ and 'Open Standards' are any content, information or data that people are free to use, re-use and redistribute — without any legal, technological or social restriction¹.

Our Definition of Open

Providing a clear definition of Openness ensures that you understand what you can and cannot do with the content of OpenReference. Knowledge is open if anyone is free to access, use, modify, and share it — subject to measures that preserve provenance and openness:

  • Open Knowledge is accessible to everyone free of charge
    (i.e. no discrimination between users, and no payment or other considerations are required as a condition of use of the knowledge)
  • Open Knowledge is published in all its details
    (i.e. all aspects are transparent and documented, and access to the documentation is free)
  • Open Knowledge is developed by volunteers through due process
    (i.e. decisions are made with equity and fairness among participants. Processes are collective, transparent and balanced)
  • Open Knowledge permits unlimited usage and redistribution when attributions are made
    (i.e. there are no limitations on using, publishing and integrating the content in commercial offerings as long as you name OpenReference as the original source of the knowledge)

Like to discuss or improve our definition of Open? Contact us.

Why Open?

Sharing knowledge has many benefits, both commercially and personally. By applying the principles, practices and processes of Openness our work products have the following benefits:

  • Transparency and Interoperability. OpenReference publishes all details to the general public and enables widespread adoption in a wide variety of products and services.
  • Freedom to participate. OpenReference is developed using a collaborative, balanced and consensus-based process. OpenReference sources its content solely from volunteer contributions. All decisions to adopt, adapt or reject content are consensus-based and published on the OpenDevelopment website.
  • Irrevocable License. OpenReference is open and will always remain open, even if another organization in the future adopts our content and makes a derivative reference proprietary, which they should not; the original OpenReference will remain open.

OpenReference welcomes volunteers from all industries, experience levels and domains. Interested to contribute to OpenReference? Contact us.

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Open, Standard, Reference, Knowledge, Share, Sharing, Free, Use, Re-use, Distribute, Contribute Our definition of Open is: ‘Open Knowledge’ and 'Open Standards' are any content, information or data that people are free to use, re-use and redistribute — without any legal, technological or social restriction