# Open Research Community

> advertorial website of commercial publisher Knowledge Unlatched (part of Wiley)

**Wikidata**: [Q109908486](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109908486)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/open-research-community

## Summary
The Open Research Community (ORC) is an advertorial website and brand operated by the commercial publisher Knowledge Unlatched, which is part of the Wiley group. It serves as a digital platform and service provided by the company to engage with the academic sector.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Type:** Website (Instance of).
*   **Operator:** Knowledge Unlatched (defined as the issuing agent and brand owner).
*   **Parent Organization:** Wiley (Knowledge Unlatched is a part of Wiley).
*   **Nature:** Described as an advertorial website for the commercial publisher.
*   **Website URL:** https://openresearch.community/
*   **Aliases:** ORC, openresearch.community.
*   **External Commentary:** Subject of critical analysis regarding Knowledge Unlatched's business activities in January 2021.

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns and operates the Open Research Community?
A: The Open Research Community is a brand and service of Knowledge Unlatched, a commercial publisher. Knowledge Unlatched is currently part of the global publishing company Wiley.

### Q: What type of website is the Open Research Community?
A: It is structurally defined as an advertorial website. While it functions as a community platform, its primary classification in knowledge bases notes its role in promoting the commercial interests of its publisher.

### Q: Is the Open Research Community an independent academic organization?
A: No. It is a service and brand owned by the commercial entity Knowledge Unlatched. Its terms and conditions explicitly state it is a brand and service of this publisher.

## Why It Matters
The Open Research Community represents a specific trend in academic publishing where commercial entities create community-facing platforms to foster engagement and brand loyalty. Its significance lies in its ownership structure: it is an asset of Knowledge Unlatched, a company known for its role in Open Access monographs, which was subsequently acquired by Wiley. The platform illustrates the convergence of content hosting, community building, and commercial publishing strategies.

The entity has also served as a case study in discussions regarding transparency in the scholarly communications landscape. In 2021, media analyses highlighted the platform's connection to Knowledge Unlatched, raising awareness about how commercial publishers utilize "community" branding to position themselves within the open research ecosystem. Understanding this entity helps researchers and librarians critically evaluate the platforms they use for scholarly exchange.

## Notable For
*   **Commercial Structure:** Being an explicitly categorized advertorial website rather than a non-profit community initiative.
*   **Corporate Ownership:** Operating under the umbrella of Wiley via Knowledge Unlatched.
*   **Brand Identity:** Functioning simultaneously as a website and a specific "brand" of its parent company.
*   **Critical Reception:** Being cited in academic media analyses (e.g., Jeff Pooley, 2021) regarding the business practices of Knowledge Unlatched.

## Body

### Identity and Purpose
The Open Research Community (often abbreviated as ORC) is a website accessible at `openresearch.community`. It serves as a digital presence for the brand "Open Research Community." According to its stated terms and conditions, it is officially a "brand and service of Knowledge Unlatched."

### Ownership and Corporate Structure
The entity is wholly owned and operated by **Knowledge Unlatched**, a commercial publisher. Knowledge Unlatched itself operates as a constituent part of **Wiley**, a major global publishing corporation. This hierarchy establishes the Open Research Community as a commercially backed entity within the academic publishing market.

### Platform Characteristics
Structurally, the entity is classified as a **website** composed of related web pages served from a single domain. Its functional classification is that of an **advertorial website**, implying its content is designed to promote the commercial services of its issuing agent while potentially providing informational resources to the academic community.

### Historical Context and References
The platform's operational status and ownership are verified by records from late 2021. During this period, the site and its parent company were the subject of external scrutiny and reporting, specifically referenced in works such as *"Knowledge Unlatched Strikes Again"* (published January 14, 2021) and *"Knowledge Unlatched Strikes Again and Again"* (published January 15, 2021) by Jeff Pooley. These references underscore the platform's visibility in discussions concerning the commercialization of open research infrastructure.

## References

1. [Source](https://openresearch.community/terms-and-conditions)
2. [Knowledge Unlatched Strikes Again. 2021](https://www.jeffpooley.com/2021/01/knowledge-unlatched-strikes-again/)
3. [Knowledge Unlatched Strikes Again and Again. 2021](https://www.jeffpooley.com/2021/01/knowledge-unlatched-strikes-again-and-again/)