From: Joseph Esposito <[log in to unmask]> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 09:33:16 -0500 I would be interested to know from lawyers familiar with antitrust issues whether this development may face legal challenges. Joe Esposito On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 10:04 PM, LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > From: Ann Shumelda Okerson <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:59:50 -0500 > > Berlin 12 Conference Focuses on Proposal to Flip Subscription Journals > to Open Access > > Reporte by Kathleen Shearer. Association of Research Libraries > Partnership Consultant > > "On December 8 and 9, 2015, representatives from several regions > (Asia, Europe, and North America) met in Berlin, Germany, to discuss a > proposal to flip subscription-based journals to open access models. > The initiative is being led by the Max Planck Society, the organizer > and host of the invitation-only Berlin 12 Open Access Conference. The > rationale for the initiative is based on an analysis undertaken by Max > Planck Digital Library (MPDL), which found that a flip to open access > would be possible at no financial risk, “maybe even at lower overall > costs” to the system. > > "The objective of the conference was to build a consensus for an > internationally coordinated effort to shift libraries’ journal budgets > away from subscriptions and towards article processing costs (APCs). > The meeting was attended by 96 participants from 19 countries, with > several US and Canadian representatives. The major point of discussion > was an expression of interest (EOI) that would form the basis for > gaining support and moving forward with the initiative. Once > published, organizations will be invited to sign the EOI and it will > be used to galvanize interest in the initiative around the world." > > Ms. Shearer's full report is found at: > > http://www.arl.org/storage/documents/publications/2015.12.18-Berlin12Report.pdf > > Interesting to read about what may be be an underlying difference > between the US and other countries on the matter of conversion to open > access. At least some US representatives seek a transition in which > there are real reductions in the costs of the scholarly publications > system and assert that a key to success is greater competition in that > system. The Max Planck proposal appears to be more straightforward -- > a swap (flip) of subscription payments for models that assure open access.