MIT ends contract negotiations with publisher Elsevier after lack of proposal aligned with framework for open use of research results

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has terminated contract negotiations with academic publisher Elsevier for a new academic journal, citing the failure of the publisher to make a proposal in line with the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts, which was established to ensure the open use of research results.

MIT, guided by open access principles, ends Elsevier negotiations | MIT News

The MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts is a framework established by the MIT Libraries in October 2019, based on the idea that 'the results and materials obtained through research can be shared in an open manner to advance knowledge and eventually be used to address global issues.' Based on the overarching principle that 'the dissemination of research results and outcomes should be controlled by scholars and their affiliated institutions,' the Framework aims to make research results public and available to as many people as possible, while also providing a valuable service to the MIT community.

In a new contract with Elsevier, a well-known publisher of academic journals, MIT had asked Elsevier to comply with the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts, but Elsevier was unable to submit a proposal that met these requirements, so contract negotiations were terminated.

Chris Boulle of the MIT Libraries expressed disappointment that they were unable to reach an agreement with Elsevier, but said, 'We are extremely proud to know that the MIT community supports the importance of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts to promote the public good and scientific advancement.'

Although no deal was reached, Bourg said he was 'hopeful that Elsevier can resume productive negotiations with MIT to develop a proposal that reflects the needs and values of the MIT community and advances MIT's mission.'

However, he also stated, 'In the meantime, we will use this framework to pursue new paths to achieve open access to knowledge. Our groundbreaking agreement with ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), together with the University of California, Carnegie Mellon University, and Iowa State University, serves as an example of how to build the business models of the future,' making clear his intention to move forward independently even without a contract with Elsevier.

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MIT reports that it has been able to reduce expenditures by 80% (about 300 million yen) by terminating its contract with academic publisher Elsevier - GIGAZINE