From: Kim Beadle <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:14:21 +0200

The International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical
Publishers (STM) read with interest the two Communications (on the
European Research Area
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_library/pdf_06/er
a-communication-partnership-excellence-growth_en.pdf) and on access to
scientific information
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_library/pdf_06/er
a-communication-towards-better-access-to-scientific-information_en.pdf)
and the Commission Recommendation
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_library/pdf_06/re
commendation-access-and-preservation-scientific-information_en.pdf) on
access to and preservation of scientific information, published on 17
July 2012.

STM is pleased to see that the European Commission:
* recognizes the importance of the European academic and professional
publishing market (European publishers account for almost 50% of
articles published worldwide) and their rapid adaption to the digital
age

* realizes that the economic and societal potential of better access to
scientific information can only be realized if budgets are sufficient

* respects intellectual property rights in the major challenge to
broadly implement Open Access in ERA

* and concludes that access to publicly-funded information has to be
wide, fair, sustainable and easy

STM welcomes the efforts of the Commission on research data and applauds
the recognition that the process of selecting, reviewing and publishing
articles has a cost.

STM is pleased to see that the Commission maintains eligibility for Gold
open access publishing costs in Horizon2020 and even considers providing
reimbursement after end of the grant agreement, previously a major
practical stumbling block.

STM is disappointed that the Commission decided not to follow the
pragmatic lead of the UK Finch Access Group in preferring Gold to Green
Open Access and in opting for minimum Green embargo periods of not less
than 12 months when APCs cannot be paid.

CEO of STM, Michael Mabe commented: "Despite data from the PEER project
indicating how impractical, time- and labour-consuming a functioning
Green OA universe would be, and numerous submissions about the problems
inherent in shorter embargos for many disciplines, the Commission has
failed to recognise one size does not fit all, retaining short embargo
times of six months for all scientific and technical areas."

While STM welcomes explanatory footnote 36 of the Communication on
Scientific Information on exceptional embargo times of twelve months
being established under the model grant agreement for Horizon 2020,
especially in regard to social science and humanities, many scientific
disciplines will also have problems.

STM is looking forward to work with the Commission, the Council, the
European Parliament and the Members States to overcome these areas of
concern and to help to achieve a smooth and successful transition to a
sustainable OA environment.

ENDS

STM is an international association of over 120 scientific, technical,
medical and scholarly publishers, collectively responsible for more than
60% of the global annual output of research articles, 55% of the active
research journals and the publication of tens of thousands of print and
electronic books, reference works and databases. We are the only
international trade association equally representing all types of STM
publishers - large and small companies, not for profit organizations,
learned societies, traditional, primary, secondary publishers and new
entrants to global publishing.

www.stm-assoc.org

Contact Kim Beadle for more information - [log in to unmask]