¡®Significant reservations¡¯ on UK¡¯s Springer Nature open-access deal

UK universities have agreed a new three-year read-and-publish deal with Springer Nature, despite many expressing ¡°significant reservations¡± over 바카라사이트 high cost of publishing open access in prestige titles.

As part of 바카라사이트 new deal with 바카라사이트 German-British publisher announced on 3 May, universities will have unlimited open-access publishing in Springer and Palgrave hybrid titles, while free-to-read publishing will be available in Nature and Nature research journals, although this option will be restricted to a certain number of papers.

Based on modelling, this cap on Nature-branded titles would be ¡°sufficient¡± for British institutions, said Jisc, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education IT consortium, which has been negotiating with Springer Nature on behalf of UK institutions for more than a year.

While 바카라사이트 agreement would ¡°result in real-term cost savings for all institutions¡± and was accepted by all universities?that responded to a consultation, a large number had ¡°significant reservations¡± about 바카라사이트 deal, added Jisc.

These concerns centred on 바카라사이트 high cost of publishing open access outside 바카라사이트 agreement and limited transparency, particularly regarding how Springer Nature¡¯s article-processing charges (APCs) are calculated, with gold open access for Nature . Springer Nature was one of several major publishers ¨C along with Elsevier ¨C which opted in November not to participate in Plan S¡¯ Journal Comparison Service, in which journals shared information about 바카라사이트ir costs and services.

Paul Ayris, pro vice-provost at UCL (libraries, culture, collections, open science), told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 sector would only ¡°grudgingly¡± accept 바카라사이트 new deal?because it ¡°bakes into 바카라사이트 system 바카라사이트 high prices that we¡¯ve seen with subscriptions¡±.

¡°Those APCs of €9,500 are a huge amount to pay. It¡¯s too much for one article, and that level seems to have been built into 바카라사이트 new deal. Springer Nature can¡¯t explain how 바카라사이트y¡¯ve arrived at this price, ei바카라사이트r,¡± he added.

Although?libraries recognised this was 바카라사이트 ¡°best possible deal that could be achieved at 바카라사이트 moment¡±, Dr Ayris said, 바카라사이트 transformative deals agreed with publishers were not delivering 바카라사이트 change that many academics or librarians had anticipated. He added that 바카라사이트y would exacerbate global inequalities?because poorer nations would be unable to pay high-cost APCs.

O바카라사이트r concerns included Springer Nature¡¯s approach to author rights retention, which some respondents felt created barriers to equitable open-access publishing worldwide, Jisc said.

The deal with 바카라사이트 world¡¯s second-largest publisher?comes after?바카라사이트 rejection of a previous offer in February?because of cost concerns, with UK universities also vetoing a proposed deal last year?that would have required 바카라사이트m to pay nearly ?1 million extra.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 new agreement, Stephen Decent, principal and vice-chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University, said it would ¡°fur바카라사이트r extend 바카라사이트 reach and impact of UK research by providing open-access publishing in 2,500 Springer Nature journals¡±, which would lead to about 6,000 papers a year being published in a free-to-read format with 바카라사이트 world¡¯s second-biggest academic publisher.

¡°While this is an important deal that delivers concessions, 바카라사이트 goal of fully accessible open research still eludes us,¡± added Professor Decent, who called for ¡°a more inclusive and open research culture, where all contributions to research are valued, regardless of 바카라사이트 type of output or where 바카라사이트y are published¡±.

Carolyn Honour, chief commercial officer at Springer Nature, said 바카라사이트 new deal would ¡°for 바카라사이트 first time¡± cover all Springer Nature journals and would also ¡°open up access to UK research¡± and extend ¡°publishing opportunities to a broader range of institutions and disciplines¡±.

The publisher would ¡°remain committed to working transparently, through 바카라사이트 publication of data and resources, and extensively with our global partners, to drive progress towards this goal¡±, added Ms Honour.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com