There is one small problem with the early part of Professor Harnad's
proposal:
> Let them continue to give their papers away to publishers to sell, but
> let them also archive it online, for free. That is all it will take!
> Readers will vote with their eyes. They will of course prefer to access
> the literature for free online -- Los Alamos has already proven that.
Unfortunately, most publishers at present demand that authors assign the
IPR to the publisher -- which means that the author would be committing an
offence against the Copyright, Design and Patents Act by publishing the
material him/herself. Of course, authors could resist this demand; but
since to do so could deny them publication in a prestigious journal, and
since they are under pressure from institutions because of the RAE, and
given that Professor Harnad is arguing that you cannot expect authors NOT
to wish to publish in the known literature, this proposal seems to fall by
the logic of his own argument.
--
-----------------------------------------------------
Ian Lovecy
Uwch Gynghorwr Strategaeth / Senior Strategy Adviser
Prifysgol Cymru Bangor / University of Wales Bangor
Bangor
Gwynedd
LL57 2DG
Ffon: 01248 383998 Ffacs: 01248 383876
E-bost: [log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|