E-learn Weblog of Willem van Valkenburg

Last week the Dutch universities decided to boycot Elsevier, because of the negotiations around open access. This is a mayor step in the battle for open.

As a first step in boycotting the publisher, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) has asked all scientists that are editor in chief of a journal published by Elsevier resign. If this way of putting pressure on the publishers does not work, the next step would be to ask reviewers to stop working for Elsevier. After that, scientists could be asked to stop publishing in Elsevier journals.

This is part of a bigger plan to move the Dutch science into the world of open.  Sander Dekker, the State Secretary  of Education has taken a strong position on Open Access. He has set two Open Access targets: 40% of scientific publications should be made available through Open Access by 2018, and 100% by 2024. The preferred route is through gold Open Access – where the work is ‘born Open Access’. This means there is no cost for readers – and no subscriptions.

If universities take these targets seriously, bold moves have to be made. This is such a move, more of those should follow! There are still a lot of scientists who are giving their copyright away without even thinking about open access. Steps like thise certainly helps in the awareness.

Background:

• Dutch article in NRC
• VSNU factsheet
• Article of Danny Kingsley

Image source: Twitter