Definitions for "Open Standards"
Publicly maintained, readily available standards that are not owned or specified by a single commercial organisation and so can be used widely.
Specifications that are public-that is, not owned by any company or individual. The Internet is based on open standards.
Computing specifications that are public, not proprietary. Open standards enable greater interoperability between applications, both within and beyond an organisation.
specifications for computer system components that are proposed, defined, and maintained through public processes, and that enable hardware and software produced by different manufacturers to operate together to provide ready access to digitally stored information.
basic sets of instructions that are not owned by a single company (p. 89)