On 21 Oct 2009, at 13:35, Stevan Harnad wrote:
> With every good intention, Jason Baird Jackson -- in "Getting Yourself
> Out of the Business in Five Easy Steps"
> http://jasonbairdjackson.com/2009/10/12/getting-yourself-out-of-the-business-in-five-easy-steps/
> is giving the wrong advice on Open Access, recommending a strategy
> that has not only been tried and has failed and been superseded
> already, but a strategy that, with some reflection, could have been
> seen to be wrong-headed without even having to be tried.
It seems churlish (especially in Open Access week) to criticise
someone arguing in favour of Open Access. But JB Jackson (Professor of
Folklore) is not addressing Open Access at all, but the separate idea
that no-one should be able to take advantage of his work "for profit".
This offers less benefit than Open Access, being an argument merely
for cheaper journals (or more expensive production costs, depending on
how you work the equations of profitability). Open Access doesn't
forbid publishers making a profit, it only asks that a free version of
the work be also made available.
As for the practicality of his "Five Easy Suggestions", they should be
retitled "Getting Yourself Out of the Research Business". Let's
instead stick to just One Easy Suggestion: put a copy of your research
in your repository.
---
Les Carr
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