Royal Society of Chemistry shifts to regional open access models after community feedback | Chemistry World

"The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) had hoped to make all its journals open access (OA) by 2028, but has now decided against a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it will tailor models by region based on local needs, funding and infrastructure.

In the traditional scientific publishing model, publishers charge subscription fees for access to academic journals. However, OA journals usually charge a one-off article processing charge (APC) and no subscription fee. The RSC had hoped to negotiate agreements where institutions would pay a flat rate for their researchers to publish in its 58 journals without paying individual APCs. These agreements could vary by region to allow richer countries to pay more.

However, it will now adapt its plans to account for an increasingly complex and uncertain publishing landscape. While some regions are steaming ahead with full OA, others are choosing their own path and some are not ready for full OA, says Sara Bosshart, RSC’s head of open access. Other complicating factors include the rapid growth of AI tools affecting licensing, attribution and governance of openly accessible research, as well as flat or declining library budgets. As these pressures mount, institutions are increasingly hesitant to commit to long-term OA models...."