The Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) has sued a call for public feedback on its draft recommendations designed to promote equity within the Open Access (OA) publishing landscape. Feedback is welcome until July 1st, 2024.
OASPA's recommendations address a broad range of concerns, encompassing all Open Access models – including journals, books, fully Open Access and hybrid models. A core objective is to prevent exclusionary practices that could erode trust in the entire concept of Open Access.
The draft recommendations are particularly focused on financial barriers faced by researchers. OASPA emphasizes the need to move beyond current waiver systems, advocating for a more equitable approach to Article Processing Charges (APCs) – the fees associated with publishing Open Access content.
The call for feedback extends to all stakeholders within scholarly publishing, including:
• Open Access publishers
• Libraries
• Research institutions
• Research funders (public and private)
• Infrastructure and service providers
• Anyone interested in Open Access advancements
Following the feedback period, OASPA will finalize the recommendations. The final version is intended to serve as a voluntary framework for all publishers and other stakeholders seeking to create a more equitable and inclusive Open Access environment.
The finalized recommendations will be published in a user-friendly format with a Creative Commons BY license, along with a companion checklist for easier navigation of the detailed document. OASPA also intends to incorporate feedback into future iterations of the recommendations and convene ongoing discussions to foster positive change within Open Access publishing.
Click here to read the original press release.
