Plan S in Latin America: A Precautionary Note | Scholarly and Research Communication

Abstract:  Background  Latin America has historically led a vital and open access movement and leads the worldwide region with the adoption of wider open access practices. Argentina has expressed its commitment to join Plan S, an initiative from a European consortium of research funders with a mandate to promote the open access publishing of scientific outputs.

Analysis  This opinion article suggests that the potential adhesion of Argentina or other Latin American nations to Plan S ignores the reality and tradition of Latin American open access publishing.

Conclusion and implications  Plan S must demonstrate that it will encourage at a regional and global level the advancement of non-commercial open access initiatives. Latin America should invest and promote open nonprofit scholarly-led infrastructures, allowing the academy to regain control of scholarly communications.