[SPARC response on U.S. Open Government National Action Plan]

"Recommended Commitment: Ensure Immediate, Free Access to and Reuse of Government-funded Research and Educational Materials

Problem Identification: Americans deserve immediate access to the $90 billion in annual research funded by their tax dollars. Currently, journal articles reporting on this federally funded research are locked behind paywalls, limiting public access to the latest information and undermining transparency.

Beyond paywalls, the public also faces barriers to reusing this research. Restrictive licenses often prohibit critical activities like text and data mining, computational analysis, and evaluation of research integrity. These financial and licensing barriers directly undermine the core purpose of the public's research investment — to advance knowledge and benefit society...."