Canon EOS 40D White PaperDefn: A white paper is an authoritative report. White papers are used to educate customers, collect leads for a company, or help people make decisions. They can also be a government report outlining policy. More recently, the term "white paper" has also come to refer to documents that argue non-governmental positions as well. For example, many white papers today expose the benefits of particular technologies and products. These types of white papers are almost always marketing communications documents and are designed to promote a specific company's solutions or products as it relates to the issue or topic examined. As a marketing tool, it is important to note that these papers will always highlight information favorable to the company authoring or sponsoring the paper, while minimizing any negative aspects related to the company's involvement with the issue, product or technology. Today the commercial white paper is the most common type of white paper. Such white papers are often used to generate sales leads, establish thought leadership, or to educate customers - this is quite different from the original use of white papers though generally valued by the authors clients. White papers, when written objectively, are often regarded as a credible source of information and/or education.
