nonproprietary

Nonproprietary refers to goods, standards, or processes that are not owned or controlled by a single private entity and are not subject to exclusive licensing. In contrast, proprietary products or standards are controlled by one owner, who can determine terms of use, access, and distribution.

In technology and information policy, nonproprietary is often used to describe standards, formats, or software that are openly usable by others without requiring permission from a particular company. Nonproprietary standards are typically published and maintained by standards bodies or coalitions, with implementations freely developed by multiple organizations. The aim is to promote interoperability, competition, and innovation by reducing vendor lock-in.

Examples of nonproprietary formats and standards include the PNG image format, the HTML and CSS web standards, the TCP/IP networking protocol suite, and the OpenDocument Format. Nonproprietary software is often associated with open source or freely licensed software, though nonproprietary status is not the same as open source or free software.

Notes: The term can be ambiguous in practice. Some nonproprietary standards may require royalties through patent licenses, and governance of standards bodies can affect access and control. Conversely, some modern proprietary systems may incorporate nonproprietary components. In policy and procurement, the preference for nonproprietary options can reflect goals of interoperability and long-term accessibility.