Open access publishing - noble intention, flawed reality.

Area of Science:

• Scholarly Publishing
• Bibliometrics
• Research Funding Models

Background:

• The international scholarly publishing community has debated funding models for scientific research dissemination for two decades.
• While Open Access (OA) is often assumed to be the dominant model, recent commentaries indicate ongoing divisions among stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the deep divisions within the scholarly publishing sector regarding OA funding.
• To analyze the systemic drivers behind these divisions.
• To explore future prospects for realizing OA benefits while mitigating risks and costs.

Main Methods:

• This study employs a narrative review methodology.
• It synthesizes current commentaries and evidence on the OA publishing debate.

Main Results:

• Significant divisions persist among stakeholders in scholarly publishing regarding OA models.
• Article Processing Charges (APCs) create inequities, discriminating against junior, unfunded, and resource-poor researchers.
• Evidence points to systemic injustice caused by APCs in scientific dissemination.

Conclusions:

• The OA publishing model presents substantial risks and costs that require careful consideration.
• Addressing the inequities caused by APCs is crucial for achieving true inclusivity in scientific communication.
• Future strategies must balance OA benefits with the need for equitable researcher participation.