Permanence: Digital information--including OER--can disappear if it's not archived and backed up in a trusted repository.
Potential corporatization: Corporatization is one reason for the sharp rise in cost of educational materials. There is concern that, as companies like Amazon take on OER, they will also monopolize or otherwise limit the openness of the OER.
Complex IP issues: Although OER use open licenses in part to reduce complexity around intellectual property, issues do arise. Open licensing in itself can be a challenge to navigate; in addition, third-party materials like media and images may introduce complexity into any OER project.
Missing ancillary resources: Although some OER projects like OpenStax are working to incorporate more resources for instructors and students, other open resources lack instructor copies, outlines, quizzes/tests, clicker exercises, and materials that can make publisher offerings attractive.
Quality issues: OER may be produced with little added support for copy-editing and design. In addition, some may not be updated as frequently as the education community might like.
Time: Creating and/or locating existing OER can be extremely time-consuming. For this reason, libraries, administrators, and instructional designers at various institutions are increasingly providing support for faculty members who wish to use OER in their courses.