Viewpoints on open access

Abstract:  Criticism of the recent open access evolution focuses on the difficulty faced by research groups with fewer resources, especially in some disciplines or in disadvantaged geographic areas. Furthermore, in spite of the initial expectations, open access is favoring the increase of concentration in the publishing market. One way to overcome these difficulties may be to go back to the core objective – a broader dissemination of scientific research – using different tools to achieve it, being coherent with the recommendation of the 2002 Budapest Declaration. «Flexibility, experimentation, and adaptation to local circumstances» were the heart of the declaration born after the initiative of the Open Society Foundation, which also stated that there is no need to impose one single model through legislation.