An attempt to release academic papers from paid subscription services is ongoing

by klimkin

The results of scientific research are presented in scientific journals in the form of papers and other researchers who are not participating in the research can also learn the past research results that they are not directly involved in by reading their papers Can. By conducting new research based on past research results obtained in this way, science continues to progress one after another. However, the fact that many such academic papers are "blocked by the barrier of paid subscription service" has become a big problem, and many researchers are trying to counter this situation.

Time to break academic publishing's stranglehold on research | New Scientist
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032052-900-time-to-break-academic-publishings-stranglehold-on-research/

Publishers of academic papers such as Elsevier have gained enormous benefits from subscription fees of academic journals paid by universities and laboratories around the world. Subscription fee for accessing these academic papers is very expensive, according to one theory that profit margin exceeds 40%. Academic papers are one of the most profitable businesses in the world, and the profit margin is said to be even higher than the oil industry.

What is the reason why the publication of academic papers boasts such a profit margin is that there is a reality that many subscription fees for academic papers are covered by public funds. Many facilities and universities that conduct specialized research are receiving public support and they judge that it is necessary to access the latest academic papers to conduct research, and research fees for academic papers will be invested It is said that it pays out from within.

Researchers who have access to academic papers obtain the latest research results, conduct new research based on the latest research results, and present the results in the form of academic papers. The right of academic papers so announced has passed again to the publisher, and other researchers seem to have completed the cycle of paying subscription fee to access the research results. The copyright of academic papers is often held by publishers, and authors of articles do not obtain monetary merit from enormous subscription fees.

The business model concerning this academic paper is unhealthy and can not be defended, even some publishers who are enjoying profits are understood. Problems originating from an impossible business model are erupting, even universities that should be able to withstand the outrageous subscription fee and should have access to the latest paper for research should close the subscription contract for the thesis It has evolved into the situation.

A university that discontinues subscription agreement with Elsevier and others hating the expensive subscription fee - GIGAZINE

Meanwhile, " Sci-Hub " which is a pirate site on the world's first academic paper with the name "for the development of science" has appeared. The idea of ​​Sci-Hub, founded by a neuroscientist in Kazakhstan Alexandra Elbakian, says, "I have to subscribe to a paper that probably never will be read again for 300 dollars (about 34,000 yen)" He got from Mr. Elbakian's own experience which faced the problem of.

Pirated site "Sci-Hub" that makes 47 million research papers readable by "free development" for science development - GIGAZINE

Sci-Hub has been sued by many publishers, including Elsevier, and measures such as losing domain by losing court struggle are done. Meanwhile, scientists from all over the world claiming the usefulness of Sci-Hub came from scientists around the world, and Shi-Hub became a useful tool for researchers who want to access academic papers to actually obtain the latest research results I suspect it is.

Since authors of articles abandon copyright in many cases, we can not obtain financial benefits by subscription fee. Therefore, it is strong view that a large subscription fee, which is almost entirely the benefit of the publishing company, is only to obstruct opportunities for many researchers to read his own paper and use it for further research .

A scientist's appeal to the need for a fundamental law revision to a huge publisher appealing illegal pirated sci-tech pirated "Sci-Hub" - GIGAZINE

There is " cOAlition S " which is the agreement announced by the European Commission (EC) and 11 research institutes as the latest attempt to aim for open access of academic papers. cOAlition S was organized to achieve the goal " plan S " and in plan S "research that received a public grant published after 2020 is an open access journal or open access platform We have to be announced on the principle "in principle.

What is the plan "Plan S" to make it possible to read all scientific research free of charge on the publication date? - GIGAZINE

At the time cOAlition S was announced in September 2018, researchers all over the world were hoping that this movement will expand snowball. However, as of November 2018, only 43 research institutes in the EU area have agreed on efforts, and the American research institutions that have been expected are not participating in cOAlition S.

Plan S can be an opportunity to break the business model held by the current academic paper publisher, but almost all research institutions need to participate in cOAlition S in order for this attempt to succeed. It is highly likely that some research institutes will simply fail away from the current business model, and researchers are expected to continue to pay enormous subscription fees in the future.