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Congress Pushing Open Access for Government-Funded Research

Posted by michael on from the don't-pay-twice dept.

jefu writes "According to this article from UPI Congress may be moving toward mandating 'Open Access' to the public for scientific papers. This move is prompted by the high prices scientific journals often charge for subscriptions and for reprints -- even when the papers were funded by government grants. The publishers and societies are opposed to the idea as it seems likely to cut into their financial base. This is an interesting move by politicians who usually find laws that make things more expensive for consumers all too attractive."

1 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Publishing by jabber-admin · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Here's what it takes to publish:

    1: Receive manuscripts from authors in ascii, word, pdf, wordperfect, basically any format ever created.
    2: Copyedit those manuscripts to match the style of the journal so they don't look like crap.
    3: Prepare graphics so they don't look like crap.
    4: Turn those manuscripts into usable source (SGML or XML or other) and then format onto the page.
    5: Proofread.
    6: Mail proofs to editor.
    7: Revise proofs per editor instructions. x1 x2 x3 (til its right)
    7: Print the book. Ship the book.
    8: Create PDF's.
    9: Prepare SGML to go online.
    10: Convert figures so that they are no longer 5 megs a piece.
    11: Put online on secure servers.
    12: Maintain servers indefinately.

    Eliminate all those steps and we could probably have free access.