Community over commercialisation: Combating knowledge monopolies in scholarly publishing

In the context of Open Access Week 2023 held between 23-29 October 2023 and its theme, ‘Community over Commercialisation’, we highlight a crucial concern within academic and scientific publishing: knowledge monopolies. These occur when a few corporations wield significant control over knowledge production, distribution, and access, leading to several implications for researchers, academic institutions, and the public at large.

Knowledge monopolies often restrict access through paywalls, making it difficult for researchers, especially from low-income countries, and the public at large to access valuable information. Furthermore, these monopolies charge exorbitant subscription fees to universities and other institutions, with some libraries paying millions annually for journal subscriptions. This financial burden often results in budget cuts in other essential areas of education and research.

For researchers, these monopolies can limit their ability to conduct and share research due to the high costs associated with accessing articles. In addition, authors often must transfer copyright to the publisher, limiting their control over their work and sometimes incurring additional fees to make their work open access. Meanwhile, these monopolies can hinder access to important research findings for the public, particularly in areas like public health, environment, and policy where public access can lead to informed decisions and actions.

In recent years, there has been significant pushback against these monopolies. Initiatives like Plan S require that, from 2021, scientific publications from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant OA journals or platforms. Additionally, many researchers, institutions, and governments support OA journals and repositories to democratise access to knowledge, thereby embodying the spirit of ‘Community over Commercialisation’.

Explore the power of knowledge without borders today. We invite you to browse through our extensive collection of OA journals and books. Discover the latest research findings, innovative ideas, and thought-provoking insights from various fields of study. We would love to hear from you. Join our community of researchers and authors making a difference by choosing ‘Community over Commercialisation’. As a researcher, consider sharing your work through our OA journals or by publishing an OA book with us. We’re open to collaboration on new journals or existing ones. Contact AOSIS today to start your publishing journey. Together, let’s democratise knowledge and make it accessible to all.

Some additional news releases you might find intriguing in observance of Open Access Week 2023:

• Open access: A bridge to public interest amid commercialisation
• Knowledge for all: The rise and impact of open publishing platforms

About AOSIS

AOSIS is a leading open-access publisher of scholarly journals and books. We are committed to promoting scholarly research and facilitating knowledge sharing through our high-quality, peer-reviewed publications.