In today's world, OpenCorporates has become a topic of constant and highly relevant debate in different areas. Whether in politics, society, technology, or any other field, OpenCorporates has generated great interest and has been the subject of multiple studies and research. Its impact on daily life and the development of various areas is undeniable, which is why it is essential to thoroughly analyze its implications and consequences. In this article, we will explore different perspectives and approaches on OpenCorporates, with the aim of better understanding its influence and reach today.
OpenCorporates is a website that shares data on corporations under the copyleftOpen Database License. The company, OpenCorporates Ltd, was incorporated on 18 December 2010 by Chris Taggart and Rob McKinnon, and the website was officially launched on 20th.
Data is sourced from national business registries in 140 jurisdictions, and presented in a standardised form. Collected data comprises the name of the entity, date of incorporation, registered addresses, and the names of directors. Some data, such as the ownership structure, is contributed by users.
Recognition
In 2011, the site won third place in the Open Data Challenge. Vice President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes said the site "is the kind of resource the (Digital) Single Market needs and it is encouraging to see that it is being built." The project was represented on the European Union's Core Vocabularies Working Group's Core Business Task Force.
In July 2015, OpenCorporates was a finalist in both the Business and Publisher categories at the Open Data Institute Awards. It was announced as the winner of the Open Data Business Award due to work with promoting data transparency in the corporate sector.
Usage
The service has been used to study public procurement data, online hiring market, to visualize and analyze company data to analyze tax havens, illicit activities of companies.