STM, an international association of over 120 scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishers, has responded to the two communications (on the European Research Area and on access to scientific information) and the European Commission Recommendation on access to and preservation of scientific information. The communications were published on July 17, 2012.
STM has stated that it is pleased to see that the EC recognises the importance of the European academic and professional publishing market, and respects intellectual property rights as the major challenge to broadly implement open access in the European Research Area (ERA). STM has also applauded the EC’s conclusion that access to publicly-funded information has to be wide, fair, sustainable and easy.
Further, STM welcomes the efforts of the EC on research data and applauds the recognition that the process of selecting, reviewing and publishing articles has a cost. The organisation is pleased to see that the Commission maintains eligibility for Gold open access publishing costs in Horizon2020 and even considers providing reimbursement after end of the grant agreement, previously a major practical stumbling block.
However, STM has expressed disappointment that the Commission decided not to follow the lead of the UK Finch Access Group in preferring Gold to Green open access and in opting for minimum Green embargo periods of not less than 12 months when APCs cannot be paid.
STM is looking forward to work with the Commission, the Council, the European Parliament and the member states to overcome the areas of concern and to help achieve a smooth and successful transition to a sustainable OA environment.
