White House #OSTP memo plots course for open access | Elsevier Connect

There is widespread interest and support from all stakeholders in the principle of open access. What is essential is to craft open-access policies that work in practice, that are sustainable, and that maintain the quality and integrity of the scientific record. The issues are considerably more complex than they may appear on the surface. Those most advanced in formulating a lasting solution have been the Finch Group in the UK and the Groupement Français de l’Industrie de l’Information  in France. The long-awaited release of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) memorandum changes this. It adds a welcome third addition to the list and outlines a constructive way toward open access. The memo directs each US funding agency with over $100 million in annual research expenditure to develop a plan to support public access to the results of research funded by the federal government, including results published in scholarly publications. And — rather unusually for an issue that can be unnecessarily divisive in the research community — there is much to like in the memo from all perspectives. For publishers, the OSTP has opened the door to what we believe will be constructive discussions with US federal funding agencies. The policy recognizes both the importance of the widest possible access to journal articles and the contribution that publishers make to the dissemination of quality research findings and the need for publishing costs to be met in a sustainable way. Both the SPARC open access advocacy network and the Association of American Publishers welcomed the policy, albeit with some interesting differences in emphasis and interpretation. So it’s not that there won’t be difficult discussions ahead; it’s just that we enter them with OSTP guidance that endorses collaboration and consultation as the best way to develop good policies. Here’s why we’re encouraged by the OSTP memo  ... 1. It promotes gold open access funded through publishing charges and flexible embargo periods for green open access ...  2. It seeks to leverage publishing industry investments rather than duplicate efforts ... 3. It encourages collaboration ..."