Library and Information Science Commons^™

Open Or Openwashing? Preliminary Findings From A Content Analysis Of Publisher Websites, Courtney Waugh, Emily Carlisle-Johnston

FIMS Presentations

The term openwashing originated in 2009, when Michelle Thorne coined and defined it as the process of “spin[ning] a product or company as open, although it is not.” The term has since become more commonplace around scholars and practitioners, who sometimes call out acts of openwashing to signal that despite claims suggesting otherwise, a product, service, or company does not fulfill requirements to be Open.

A recent literature review by the authors concluded that while research on the topic is minimal, commentary on openwashing coalesces around two themes: marketing and transparency. Openness as a virtue has become a marketing asset …

The Deceptive Practice Of Openwashing With Open Access Data, James Thibeault

Library Publications

You’ve probably heard the term greenwashing before. A company might say that their new “green” items are recyclable when the truth is more complicated. It’s tricky wordplay—being dishonest with the public but phrasing it so that it is technically true. Those who advocate for green policies are frustrated by these deceptive greenwashing practices. The same applies for advocates who want companies and governments to be more transparent about the data they collect. Openwashing is similar to greenwashing, in which groups like organizations and governments claim they are disclosing information, but in reality, it’s not entirely the case. What does it …