Cambridge University has provided a very
clear step-by-step statement of how to comply with the new HEFCE/REF OA Policy, as well as the RCUK OA policy, and they are implementing it immediately:
"This policy comes into force on 1 April 2016. Yet at the University we want to ensure this shift is managed sooner rather than later to ensure no research is omitted.
To derive the full benefit of the HEFCE/REF immediate-deposit policy it is important that all UK universities also implement the email copy-request Button:
For DSpace:
https://wiki.duraspace.org/display/DSPACE/RequestCopy
For EPrints:
http://wiki.eprints.org/w/RequestEprint
This ensures that researchers worldwide can immediately request (and authors can immediately provide, with one click each) a single copy of closed-access deposits for research purposes even during a publisher OA embargo period.
What makes the HEFCE/REF OA policy so important and powerful is that it ensures that all final drafts are deposited immediately, rather than only after a publisher OA embargo period has elapsed.
The Request-Copy Button in turn ensures that the immediate-deposit does not lie fallow for a year.
Sale, A., Couture, M., Rodrigues, E., Carr, L. and Harnad, S. (2014)
Open Access Mandates and the "Fair Dealing" Button. In: Coombe, RJ Wershler, D & Zellinger, M (Eds)
Dynamic Fair Dealing. U Toronto Press
Stevan Harnad