[BOAI] Changes in publisher policies on repository deposit?

[Peter Suber]

[Forwarding from Fred Friend via the JISC-Repositories list.  --Peter Suber.]


To all repository managers:

Rumours are spreading that Elsevier staff are approaching UK 
Vice-Chancellors persuading them to point to PDF copies of articles on 
Elsevier's web-site rather than have the articles deposited in 
institutional repositories. It appears that the argument being used is that 
this will be a cheaper option than maintaining full-text within 
repositories. If these reports are true, my guess is that Elsevier are 
using these arguments to undermine deposit mandates. If Vice-Chancellors 
are persuaded to adopt this policy, it would only give repository access to 
an unsatisfactory version (PDFs will not enable re-use for research 
purposes) and access on Elsevier's terms. If this is Elsevier's strategy it 
would seem to negate their "green" status. Previous correspondence on this 
list has indicated a harder line on repository deposit by Wiley-Blackwell, 
and if Elsevier are also hardening their policy, mandates for repository 
deposit could lose much of their potential effectiveness in increasing 
access to research content.

It would be wise for repository managers to brief their senior university 
management on this issue. The threat to repository deposit also adds to the 
need for authors to be briefed on the use of a licence to publish retaining 
certain rights rather than ceding all control over their work to the publisher.

Any publishers reading this message should understand that dialogue on the 
issues above will be welcome, in particular clarification of any change in 
publisher policies.

Fred Friend (not writing on behalf of any organisation or institution)
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