The article looks at the issues related to the concept of open content, i.e. the creative works that others can copy or modify. The author focuses on the accessibility of works, documents and publications produced by public institutions in Poland. In the first section the various types of works and their accessibility under the copyright law are covered. Next, those types of works are discussed in the context of content produced by public institutions. The author also presents most notable examples of institutions which have opened the access to their works.