Report makes recommendations on transparent communication of Open Access prices and services

An independent report makes a series of recommendations to support greater transparency in the communication of open access publishing prices and services. 

The report, published today Tuesday 14 January 2020, forms part of a project led by consultancy Information Power, and commissioned by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Wellcome on behalf of cOAlition S, an international consortium formed to make full and immediate open access to research publications a reality.

To help achieve this goal, cOAlition S supports greater transparency in the nature and prices of open access publishing, with the aim that this will facilitate conversations and comparisons and build confidence amongst customers that prices are fair and reasonable.

The report recommends a framework intended to provide information about open access services and prices in a transparent, practical, and insightful way. The authors engaged and consulted widely with funders, libraries, publishers, and universities during the project, who worked together to inform the development of the framework.

The report provides opportunities for publishers to build better awareness of and appreciation by customers of the value of publisher services, and to demonstrate publisher commitment to open business models and business cultures.

Addressing cOAlition S, the report emphasises that the introduction of a new reporting requirement needs to be organised with clear implementation guidelines, and a proper plan for testing, development, release, review, and refinement. It recommends the coalition should take an iterative approach to implementation, with a pilot as the next step.

cOAlition S has accepted the recommendation that such a framework needs to be piloted before implementation. To support this the coalition has agreed an extension of the project to pilot and refine the framework during the first quarter of 2020. Based on the outcome of the pilot the coalition will decide how to use the framework, or a refinement of it.

UKRI will consider the report and further outcomes of the project as part of its ongoing Open Access Review.

Further information on the report and project can be found on the Information Power website.