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'


A Pattern of Success at C&T Publishing

The launch of C&T Publishing’s Stash Books imprint in early spring 2010 was a key factor in driving up sales last year at the Concord, Calif., craft and quilting book publisher, and the new imprint, aimed at a younger audience than C&T’s usual customers, continues to do well in 2011.... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #key factor #practical guide #book trade


Robson Press to publish Stoker's lost notebooks

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Thu, 13/10/2011 - 08:50 Jeremy Robson has secured world rights to a book that features the previously unpublished notebooks of Bram Stoker as one of Robson's launch titles for his new imprint at Biteback. Robson bought the rights directly from... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robson press #bram stoker #launch titles


Publishers Flocking to Apple's iOS 5 Newsstand App

The highly anticipated launch of Apple's new iOS 5 is now here and with the new functionality comes new features--including one that publishers may find particularly valuable. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Well-funded' Literature Prize may run in 2012

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Wed, 12/10/2011 - 16:06 Publishers, agents, writers, scouts and literary critics are backing the new Literature Prize announced today but all names other than those already released are being kept under wraps, spokesperson Andrew Kidd has told The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literature prize #ll announce #advisory committee


Publishing Technology to build UN e-collection

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 12/10/2011 - 10:17 Publishing Technology is to build the United Nations e-collection. The publishing software services provider has signed the UN e-collection to its pub2web platform, which allows cross-searching, discovery and sales via... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing technology


Amazon expands into SF publishing

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 11/10/2011 - 14:30 Amazon.com has announced its seventh imprint, a science fiction, fantasy and horror brand called 47North, which has launched with 15 books. The imprint name is based on the latitude co-ordinates of Seattle, where Amazon was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction


Downer warns publishers: 'set the agenda'

Written By: Philip Jones Publication Date: Tue, 11/10/2011 - 15:33 Publishers must take ownership of selling books or face quickly becoming irrelevant, former Borders UK chief Philip Downer told delegates at Tools of Change Frankfurt today (11th October). Downer said he was concerned that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #selling books #chain booksellers #ebook prices #free market


Content Marketing Has Arrived. Should Publishers Be Worried?

September 6th was a coming out party for content marketing. Over 600 marketing professionals came together in Cleveland from 18 different countries for Content Marketing World to learn how to create and grow their own publishing and storytelling platforms. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content marketing


Children's publishers positive about FBF deals

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 08:05 Children's publishers are upbeat about this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, despite the turbulent impact of the uncertain financial markets across Europe. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers ready Diamond Jubilee titles

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 14:31 Publishers are preparing a raft of titles ahead of the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2013. Big names will be penning their take on the Queen’s 60-year reign, with broadcaster Andrew Marr’s title The Diamond Queen (27th... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #titles ahead #big names


Waterstone's strikes publishers' agreement

Written By: Benedicte Page and Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 08:30 A "gentleman's agreement" is allowing trade to continue over the crucial pre-Christmas period between Waterstone's and publishers with which it has not yet agreed terms. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #benedicte page #agreed terms


Adobe Releases Single Edition in Digital Publishing Suite

In an expanded effort to support all of publishers’ app needs, Adobe’s Digital Suite now includes Single Edition capability. The service is available for iPad app creation, and supports apps intended for one time-only publication. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Perseus Creates New Service for Authors Seeking to Self-Publish

David Steinberger of Perseus, which will offer distribution and marketing to authors. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors seeking #david steinberger #offer distribution


Perseus launches self-publishing ebook service

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 08:01 US independent publisher Perseus Books Group has launched a distribution and marketing service for authors wanting to self-publish their own ebooks, offering a 70% royalty rate to the author. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Canongate sells controlling stake in Text Publishing

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 15:21 Canongate has sold its controlling stake in Australian publisher Text Publishing to Maureen and Tony Wheeler, the founders of Lonely Planet. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, generates a "sizeable" amount of cash to invest into... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #text publishing #controlling stake #lonely planet


British Museum to publish first manga title

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 30/09/2011 - 15:26 The British Museum Press is teaming up with Japanese star Hoshino Yukinobu to publish its first manga book, featuring the artist’s most famous character, Professor Munakata. Marketing and publicity executive Sarah Morgan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british museum #famous character #single volume #31st october


Another Rodale Exec’s Exit Points to Changes at Publisher

Gregg Michaelson, the integrated marketing president and chief marketing office with Rodale, has left the company. Michaelson was with the publisher since 2001, beginning his tenure with Rodale’s book division. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


How Publishers Are Reacting to Facebook’s New Features

Last week, Facebook rolled out several new features during its fourth annual F8 Developer Conference that could change the way the magazine industry interacts with the social media platform. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook rolled


London indies fund new bookshop map

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 28/09/2011 - 08:47 London's independents have joined forces to publish a map of the city's bookshops. The London Bookshop Map features 87 indies from across the city including ones selling new, antiquarian, specialist and second hand titles. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joined forces


Most – But Not All – Big Magazine Publishers Sign On For Amazon's Tablet

Conde Nast, Hearst and Meredith are in for Wednesday's launch. Time Inc. isn't, and may not get there for a while. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conde nast