Not all Open Access is created equal.  To move beyond the seemingly simple question of “Is it Open Access?” PLOS, SPARC and OASPA have collaborated to develop a resource called “HowOpenIsIt?” This resource identifies the core components of open access (OA) and how they are implemented across the spectrum between "Open Access" and "Closed Access".  We recognize there are philosophical disagreements regarding OA and this resource will not resolve those differences.