The Max Planck Society has entered into a new five-year Open Access publishing agreement with Portland Press, which is the publishing subsidiary of the Biochemical Society. The agreement was negotiated by the Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) on behalf of the Max Planck Society’s 85 institutes. Under the terms of the agreement, five journals are covered, including four subscription-based journals and one fully Open Access title, with coverage beginning in January 2026.
Both parties state that the agreement is intended to support Open Access publishing in a manner described as sustainable and equitable. The agreement extends a partnership that previously operated for five years under a Read and Publish transitional model. The Max Planck Society continues its participation in publishing initiatives that focus on Open Access progress and innovation.
The Biochemical Society previously committed to achieving Open Access publishing by 2025 in line with Plan S goals. The final step toward full Open Access publishing was implemented through the adoption of the Subscribe to Open model. Under this model, all 2025 volumes of four subscription journals were published as fully Open Access based on collective subscription renewals. Subscribe to Open is described as a conditional model in which Open Access publication is enabled when subscription renewal thresholds are met.
The Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) selected an enhanced Open Access option that provides additional benefits, and as part of the agreement, it will continue to receive full Open Access reporting, while affiliated researchers will have guaranteed Open Access publishing in subscription journals regardless of Subscribe to Open status, along with full archival access.
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