In spite of a trend towards open identity, the ethical issues raised by the removal of anonymity from sperm donors are still contentious and raise controversy about the significance of genetic inheritance and what are often seen as competing rights claims for the children born, for donors and for the parents of donor insemination (DI) offspring. This review provides a short discussion of the arguments for and against the disclosure of donor insemination status to offspring, which are at the heart of the controversy over anonymity as they relate to the stakeholders in the process.