Open Source is defined in many places on the Web. In the UK, JISC maintains a OSS Watch web page devoted to describing its definition. There are many such definitions, so JISC has opted to use the idea of certification as backed by the Open Source Initiative (OSI), who have put themselves in the position of approving open source licences according to a specific set of criteria.

JSIC maintains a page on Open Access, as well as an OSS Watch service that keeps track of developments in the open source area.