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Scholarly Communication: Open Access Publishing

a guide to scholarly communication, scholarly impact, and other topics relevant to academic publishing

Standard Disclaimer

The materials and information presented here do not constitute legal advice and are presented for informational purposes only. For legal guidance, please consult with a licensed attorney. 

What is Open Access publishing?

Open access publishing is when a copyright holder chooses a publication option that does not allow them to collect royalties and does not permit fee-based access to the publication. Access to open access publications is free and, often, these publications are indexed in major databases. Open access publishing allows a work to be freely distributed once it is published under the open access model. The loss of author control over the material is sometimes seen as a trade-off to providing greater access to their work.  

Open Access Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
supports equitable access for scholarly materials somewhat more susceptible to predatory publishers
reduces cost of quality materials for students and educators  creator does not collect royalties or benefit financially from publication
increases visibility of your work less control over the use and adaption of your work
avoid restrictive publication agreements  less control over the distribution of your work