About the Open Knowledge Foundation
The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2004 with the simple aim of promoting (and protecting) open knowledge. It is our belief that open approaches to the production and distribution of knowledge can deliver far-reaching social and commercial benefits in a variety of areas.
What is Open Knowledge?
Simply put: it is knowledge that is open! To be more specific, by knowledge we mean any kind of content, information or data: genes to geodata, sonnets to statistics. By 'open' knowledge we mean knowledge which anyone is free to use, re-use and redistribute without legal, social or technological restriction. For more details and a really precise explanation of what this means see the Open Knowledge Definition.
What We Do
The Foundation exists to promote open knowledge in all ways possible. Central to this is our role as an open and participatory community as well as our position as a hub and partner for existing open knowledge networks. Beyond this we work specifically to:
Promote the idea of open knowledge, both what it is, and why is it a good idea.
- Act at the national and international level on open knowledge issues.
Run 'Open Knowledge' events, for example the Open Knowledge Forums and OKCON.
Develop tools that help us and help others develop open knowledge, such as KForge and the Comprehensive Knowledge Archive Network.
Provide infrastructure, and potentially a home, for open knowledge projects, communities and resources. See, for example, the KnowledgeForge service.
Running through all of our activities is a strong emphasis on decentralized collaboration. In particular, our primary aim is to help others develop open knowledge rather than doing it ourselves. Of course, that doesn't mean we don't develop specific projects (for example Open Shakespeare) but we believe that the future lies in collaboration between a multitude of different groups and that no one group or organisation can, or should try to, "do it all".
Background
Early thoughts on the motivation and aims of the Open Knowledge Foundation can be found in these two blog posts:
Advisory Board
The Open Knowledge Foundation is privileged to have the benefit of a distinguished advisory board.
Legal Status
The OKF is a not-for-profit organization. It is incorporated in the United Kingdom as a company limited by guarantee with company number 5133759. The registered office is 37 Panton Street, Cambridge, CB2 1HL and it is to this address that all correspondence should be addressed.