Scientific publishing is a rip-off. We fund the research – it should be free | George Monbiot

Those who take on the global industry that traps research behind paywalls are heroes, not thievesNever underestimate the power of one determined person. What Carole Cadwalladr has done to Facebook and big data, and Edward Snowden has done to the state security complex, Alexandra Elbakyan has done to the multibillion-dollar industry that traps knowledge behind paywalls. Sci-Hub, her pirate web scraper service, has done more than any government to tackle one of the biggest rip-offs of the modern era: the capture of publicly funded research that should belong to us all. Everyone should be free to learn; knowledge should be disseminated as widely as possible. No one would publicly disagree with these sentiments. Yet governments and universities have allowed the big academic publishers to deny these rights. Academic publishing might sound like an obscure and fusty affair, but it uses one of the most ruthless and profitable business models of any industry.The model was pioneered by the notorious conman Robert Maxwell. He realised that, because scientists need to be informed about all significant developments in their field, every journal that publishes academic papers can establish a monopoly and charge outrageous fees for the transmission of knowledge. He called his discovery “a perpetual financing machine”. He also realised that he could capture other people’s labour and resources for nothing. Governments funded the research published by his company, Pergamon, while... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #alexandra elbakyan #modern era #academic publishing #significant developments #technical term

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Scientific publishing is a rip-off. We fund the research – it should be free | George Monbiot'


Scientific publishing is a rip-off. We fund the research – it should be free | George Monbiot

Those who take on the global industry that traps research behind paywalls are heroes, not thievesNever underestimate the power of one determined person. What Carole Cadwalladr has done to Facebook and big data, and Edward Snowden has done to the state security complex, Alexandra Elbakyan has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Emerald Publishing launches £20,000 fund to make coronavirus research available

Emerald Publishing has launched a £20,000 fund to cover article processing charges, supporting social scientists in making their research on health emergencies such as coronavirus rapidly available.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-16 15:58:43 UTC ]
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Emirates Publishers Association Issues 10-Million-Dirham Fund

Reaching its 15th anniversary, the Emirates Publishers Association opens a 10-million-dirham fund that includes a business incubator. The post Emirates Publishers Association Issues 10-Million-Dirham Fund appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-04-02 13:37:26 UTC ]
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Research Publishing: Projekt DEAL, Springer Nature in New Five-Year Accord

The three-publisher program devised to elevate German open-access research publication reports that it expects a formal signing of a new accord within weeks. The post Research Publishing: Projekt DEAL, Springer Nature in New Five-Year Accord appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-11-08 21:43:12 UTC ]
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BU finds Ibram X. Kendi's antiracist research center managed funds properly, despite turmoil

Boston University said Tuesday that its initial inquiry into the antiracist research center run by best-selling author and academic Ibram X Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-11-07 17:58:34 UTC ]
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Italy’s Publishers Ask Rome to Raise Family Schoolbook Funding

The Italian Publishers Association and the market's booksellers are appealing for more government funding for poorer students' books. The post Italy’s Publishers Ask Rome to Raise Family Schoolbook Funding appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-09-07 22:09:46 UTC ]
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Digiday+ Research deep dive: Publishers’ dependency on programmatic is likely to grow, with focus on open market

Publishers make a significant portion of their revenue from programmatic ads, and most of that programmatic revenue comes from the open market. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2023-04-04 04:01:00 UTC ]
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A new Highland Park bookstore is funded by publishers — but as indie as it gets

When publishers Rare Bird and Unnamed Press moved into Highland Park, North Figueroa Bookshop soon followed, putting down roots in a bookstore-starved neighbohood. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-02-14 14:00:08 UTC ]
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Haymarket Book Publisher Offering Free eBooks on Black History

A Chicago-based independent publisher has responded to the recent attack on Black History by offering free books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-02-08 16:46:55 UTC ]
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Digiday+ Research: News Publisher Subscription Index

The index is a research framework that analyzes and ranks a set of publications across digital threshold experience, member benefits and pricing and plans dimensions. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-12-20 05:01:00 UTC ]
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Is there a Crisis of Confidence in Scientific Research?

Elsevier's just released Confidence in Research report suggests that researchers today must work to combat false and misleading information. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Why media investors are saying publishing company VC funding slowdown is a good thing

The venture capital market is slowing -- and while that might be a good thing for some investors, it'll likely be more difficult for media companies to raise capital. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-11-10 05:01:00 UTC ]
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Digiday+ Research: Direct-sold ads lose favor with publishers, while programmatic ads make gains

In surveys spanning from Q1 to Q3, Digiday+ Research found a difference growing between how publishers make money from direct-sold ads and programmatic ads. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-10-17 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Biden Administration Announces Historic Open Access Policy for Taxpayer-Funded Research

The culmination of a 20-year advocacy effort, the new policy will finally make taxpayer-funded research available to the public without cost or delay. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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IPA’s Africa Publishing Innovation Fund Pivots to Accessibility in Fourth Year

In its fourth and final year, IPA’s Africa Publishing Innovation Fund will support publishers in accessibility. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson ‘Opening the Literary World to Everyone’ ur readers will recall that at mid-June, we had the announcement of the Africa... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-29 10:33:25 UTC ]
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News publisher Lee faces renewed pressure from hedge funds

Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises is facing renewed pressure from a hedge fund to speed up its transition to digital publishing and consider adding new digital-savvy leaders to its board Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-04-14 21:27:45 UTC ]
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France’s Scientific Publishers Back an ‘Open Science’ Report

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-08 22:44:08 UTC ]
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Third of all global research articles now published Open Access, says STM

Around a third of all global research articles are now published Open Access, according to the latest report by the Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-18 17:15:24 UTC ]
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Bologna Today: AIE and Aldus Call for Publishing Research Coherence

The Italian Publishers Association and the Aldus Up network have studied how European markets survey their reading patterns and translations. The post Bologna Today: AIE and Aldus Call for Publishing Research Coherence appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-16 16:20:53 UTC ]
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Pan Mac and bks Agency host free demystifying publishing event

Pan Macmillan and The bks Agency are running a free online event all week to demystify publishing for those curious about entering the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-09 19:06:54 UTC ]
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