From: Ann Shumelda Okerson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 20:02:22 -0400

The questions of whether and when to charge for services associated
with free content is an interesting one.  During our SCOAP3 experience
(to convert high energy physics journals to open access), we learned
that at least some subscription agents charge libraries for including open
access journal titles in their subscription lists. This is generally a
flat fee per OA title.

Presumably the library customers think that there is a value added
service being performed here, if they are willing to pay such a
charge. I wondered, what is the value that's added?  Is it different
in different cases?  For example, is there a difference between an OA
fee for a journal that comes from a mainstream publisher with a mixed
list of for-pay and OA titles, vis a vis a free title such as Bryn
Mawr Classical Review?  Presumably there could be value-added for the
former, but how about for the latter?

And then I too wondered -- do the libraries know they are paying
such a fee for the OA titles?

I'd be interested in hearing from libraries and subscription agents
about such fees being charged, if and when -- as well as from the CCC
regarding Camilla's message below.

Ann Okerson

********


From: Camilla MacKay <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 17:21:53 -0400

An experience with the CCC and article licensing that might be of interest:

About three or four years ago, Bryn Mawr Classical Review received a
check (something under $100, as I recall) from the CCC for licensing
BMCR reviews. BMCR is open access, and moreover, authors sign no
copyright transfer agreements, so BMCR does not hold copyright in the
reviews published, and should not have been receiving a payment for
licensing fees in any case. I called the CCC to ask about the money,
and was told that we could choose to opt out of CCC licensing, so I
did. I think we must have deposited that check; there was no way to
get the money to the rightful owners because the specific reviews were
not identified.

When I checked the CCC site just now, I see that it's still possible
to request a "special order" for BMCR articles. I don't know what
would happen if someone tried to license a BMCR article now, but at
least we haven't received any more checks. But there seem to be plenty
of OA journals in the CCC database with licensing options; do they all
know they're represented?

Camilla MacKay
(co-editor, BMCR)