Open Site prides itself on being a free, non-commercial and open resource for the Web community. Selecting, evaluating, describing, and organizing all content fairly and equitably are key components of the editing process. We rely on the philanthropy of our volunteer editors, and strongly discourage anyone from accepting or soliciting any form of compensation for their participation in the Open Site. Additionally, we discourage submitters from soliciting or bribing editors in exchange for modifying content. Editors found to be accepting or soliciting bribes in exchange for manipulating content will be removed from the project.

Everyone is welcome to apply to join this project, including those who own, maintain and promote websites. Editors may have business or other types of affiliations relevant to the categories they edit, and may add content which relates to their own sites or sites with which they are affiliated. However, it is contrary to the goals and policy of the Open Site for editors to add only content related to their own or affiliate sites, to engage in forms of self promotion, or to exclude or modify content for the purpose of harming the competitor. Inappropriate actions may include excluding content from the project simply because it related to a competitor or intentionally editing in a manner that distorts the content or diminishes the chance that users will find or view it.

In some cases, an editor's business affiliation overlaps their involvement in the project, such as with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) professionals and Professional Content Providers (PCPs), whose participation may benefit both the editor and the project. Instances when the involvement is mutually beneficial are acceptable, however, the primary focus and goal should always be to serve the best interests of the Open Site and the editing community. Conducting unfair and deceptive activities to promote and support client listings will result in removal of editing privileges.