Briefing Paper: Article Processing Charges

"Article Processing Charges (APCs) are the fees that some scholarly publishers charge authors of academic papers to publish their papers in Open Access journals. This briefing paper provides an overview of basic issues regarding APCs, an important component of the business model of Open Access publishing. It reviews how APCs are levied, the frequency of their use and APC practices among publishers and funders. It also considers the development of Open Access publication funds led by institutions, funders and disciplines. The paper ends with a review of future questions and trends ..."