The December 18 issue of Library Journal Academic Newswire has a short piece on the UK inquiry into journal prices and accessibility. Excerpt: "[Committee Chair Ian] Gibson pledged that the committee would have some 'very tough questions' for publishers, libraries and government.
It remains to be seen, however, what actions could come out
of the hearings. In 2002, the British Office for Fair Trading (OFT) issued a statement acknowledging that the STM market 'has a number of features that suggest competition may not be working effectively.' Still, OFT chief John
Vickers at that time stopped well short of saying government intervention was needed, adding that 'market forces harnessing new technology' [i.e. the open-access movement] could bring about change without intervention (see LJ Academic Newswire 9/12/02)."
Posted by
Peter Suber at 12/19/2003 08:14:00 AM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
