Thursday, May 11, 2006

Publication Liberation

Research paid for by taxpayer money should be availlable for free!

In Europe

Scientific research funded by the European taxpayer should be freely available to everyone over the internet, according to a European commission report
"While it is important to stress the societal value of the existing publication system, it is also important to acknowledge the societal cost linked to high journal prices, in financial terms for public budgets, but also in terms of limits on the dissemination of knowledge and therefore of further scientific progress," the report concludes.

And in America

American legislators have proposed that scientific research paid for by US taxpayers should be freely available online to everyone.

But i'm afraid that once again special interest will trump public interest.