Nyílt Szabvány Szövetség

Magyarul

Nyílt szabvány
Szövetség
GYIK/FAQ
Alapítók
Szervezet
Partnerek
Támogatók
Belépés
Tagdíj
Alapszabály
Admin
Adatok
Kontakt

What is an open standard?

In our interpretation, an “open standard” is the perfect competitive market where products are homogenised into substitutes of each other, irrespective of the ownership structure or business model of the producers.

• E.g. electrical plugs and sockets are standard, and the fact that on the basis of openly-available parameters anybody can manufacture a standard socket and devices connecting to them by means of a standard plug, makes the standard an open one.
• By the same token, the plugs of mobile phone chargers have not been standard. Each manufacturer, and even individual models produced by the same manufacturer, have been using different types of chargers. Why? Because manufacturers like to keep their handsets cheap (for gaining a competitive edge), but accessories expensive (because once you’ve bought the handset, you’ll have to buy the accessories anyway). However, the EU has recently called for the production of a “one size fits all” charger (meaning the use of standard handsets and chargers), prohibiting the monopolisation of the standard, meaning that anybody can produce a charger that fits every handset or a handset that fits every charger (making them all “open-standard”). As a result the mobile industry has agreed to use the relevant open standards, and will make open-standard chargers and telephones available in the EU from 2010 onwards.

The legal definition of the above is as follows

Open standard is a standard relative to a product, service or system

• which is accessible to anyone in exchange for a fee not exceeding the distribution costs, or free of charge, without registration or any other condition, can be used by anyone free of charge and unconditionally, and
• achieving compliance with which is unrestricted by the rights of another legal entity or any other standard or technical requirement not in conformity with the conditions of the open standard, and
• for which obtaining and using the information necessary for ensuring the interoperability of the products, services or systems is unrestricted by the rights of another legal entity.

An open standard is NOT

about the management, or publication of, private information, data or source codes.

The advantages of open standards

It follows from above definition: the advantages are the same as those of the competitive market over monopolies and oligopolies.

When are open standards most advantageous?

• When several parties wish to co-operate without having to share private information and data, in a way that none of the parties can monopolise profits by controlling the specifications of interfaces/information sockets.
• When a party wishes to share information (with another party or the public) in a way that it can be processed by a device and free of monopolies.

It should be pointed out that the above definition makes no reference to IT and communication technology. That is deliberate: we do not restrict the concept of open standard, and our activities in general, to a single area.

The Open Standards Alliance

The Open Standards Alliance (http://nyissz.hu) aims to promote the spread of monopoly-free markets that foster the development of interchangeable and interoperable products generated by open standards, and, consequently, broad competition markets

• first and foremost in the interest of customers, consumers and, in the case of public procurements, of taxpayers, and
• in an effort to improve the global strategic positions of Alliance and its members, Hungary and the EU.

The Alliance and the government

Rather than being a classical, cartel-like interest protection organisation, the Alliance wishes to serve as a strategic ally in

• joint objectives,
• active within the framework of joint projects,

provided

• market needs, and
• the government specifically,

require.

Admissions & contact

info at nyissz.hu