# Open specifications

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Open_specifications
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Open_specifications.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_specifications
> Source revision: 1350696602
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=December 2024}}
{{Unreferenced|date=April 2026}}
}}
An '''open specification''' is a [specification](/source/specification_(technical_standard)) created and controlled, in an open process, by an association or a standardization body intending to achieve interoperability and interchangeability. An open specification is not controlled by a single company or individual or by a group with discriminatory membership criteria. Copies of Open Specifications are available free of charge or for a moderate fee and can be implemented under [reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing](/source/reasonable_and_non-discriminatory_licensing) (RAND) terms by all interested parties. 

Specifications should not be confused with [standard](/source/open_standard)s.

Many standards and specification are touted as open while falling short in practice. Many formal bodies charge per-copy fees for the document in order to defer the operating costs of the working group. This is rarely seen{{By whom|date=January 2010}} as negating the open status of the product, although free electronic distribution is usually seen as preferable.

==Advantages==
* As there is no restriction among traders which have specific trademark, any traders can apply material satisfying open specifications, hence it creates competition among manufacturers and suppliers.
* Progress of work does not suffer due to short supply of materials.
* Similar kind of material can be procured at competitive rate.
* Reduction of transportation chargers and delivery time.
* Quality of material standardised which results in private parties select materials depending on its quality.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Specifications}}
Category:Open standards

{{Measurement-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Open specifications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_specifications) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_specifications?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.