Read & Publish contracts in the context of a dynamic scholarly publishing system: A study on future scenarios for the scholarly publishing system

Preface  1

Management summary  3

1 Introduction  5

1.1 A study on Read & Publish contracts in the context of a dynamic scholarly publishing system  5

1.2 Objectives of the study  6

1.3 Methodology used for this study  7

1.4 Reading guide  8

2 A dynamic scholarly publishing system  9

2.1 A two-sided market 9

2.2 Transitioning from the traditional subscription-based model 9

2.3 Open access modalities  12

2.4 Transformative agreements  14

2.5 Publishing platforms 17

3 Actors in the scholarly publishing system and their main drivers 18

3.1 Stakeholders in the context of open access negotiations 18

3.2 Authors and readers  18

3.3 Negotiating consortia 21

3.4 Publishers  22

3.5 Research funders  23

3.6 Governments  25

4 Four scenarios  27

4.1 Reference scenario 1: Predominantly subscription-based contracts with delayed OA through

repositories after publishing (‘Classical/Green’)  27

4.2 Scenario 2: Predominantly Publish & Read contracts (‘P&R/R&P’)  28

4.3 Scenario 3: Predominantly contracts for publishing open access through publisher-owned

journals or platforms (‘publisher-owned OA platforms’)  28

4.4 Scenario 4: Predominantly contracts for publishing open access through community-owned

platforms (‘Community-owned OA platforms’)  29

5 Differences in implications between the scenarios  31

5.1 Methodological note and limitations 31

5.2 Impact on academic freedom and the freedom to publish in preferred journals  31

5.3 Ability to perform current research(er) performance assessment  32

5.4 Service levels of publishers and innovation in research communities 33

5.5 Transparency in the market  34

Read & Publish contracts in the context of a dynamic scholarly publishing system ii

5.6 Effects on the arts, humanities and social sciences  34

6 Perceived strengths and weaknesses of hypothetical scenarios  35

6.1 Scenario 2: R&P contracts  35

6.2 Scenario 3: Publisher-owned OA platforms or journals  37

6.3 Scenario 4: Community-owned OA platforms 39

7 Potential effects of the hypothetical scenarios on each stakeholder group  42

7.1 Authors and readers  42

7.2 Negotiating consortia 43

7.3 Publishers  44

7.4 Funders  46

8 Desirability and feasibility of the hypothetical scenarios  47

8.1 Scenario 2: Predominantly Publish & Read contracts (‘P&R/R&P’)  47

8.2 Scenario 3: Predominantly contracts for publishing open access through publisher-owned

journals or platforms (‘Publisher-owned OA platforms’)  47

8.3 Scenario 4: Predominantly contracts for publishing open access through community-owned

platforms (‘Community-owned OA platforms’)  48

9 Overview and main conclusions  50

9.1 Open access drivers  50

9.2 Implications of R&P contracts 51

9.3 Implications of future scenarios for the scholarly publishing system  52

9.4 Implications of future scenarios for various stakeholders  52

9.5 Desired future, realistic future and likelihood of implementation 53

9.6 Schematic overview of scenarios  54

9.7 Discussion and reflection  57

9.8 Recommendations  58

List of abbreviations used  60

Consulted stakeholders  61

Description of the behavioural model and application to scenarios  64

Details on the Delphi surveys  67

Scenario summary tables  70

Details on contractual conditions  78

PESTLE Factors 81