Who owns innovation? It’s a curious question. Innovation is a noun, a thing, but it is also the description of a process. In theory, it is something that can be done by anyone, and therefore it is not something that can be owned. Yet, for researchers and scholars, this is not entirely true. Academic publishers have lined the road of innovation with paywalls and purchases, creating barriers for those seeking to join the journey. My name is Isabelle Terry and I am here today to tell you how these barriers are slowly coming down through a movement called Open Access Publishing. 

Open Access began as a movement in response to the serial crisis of the 1990s in which the rising cost of academic journals forced many libraries to cancel their subscriptions due to budget constraints. In addition to rising journal prices, many universities and academic organizations began outsourcing their publications to commercial publishers (Open Access Network, 2024). Research is the backbone of academia, and the inability for scholars to access new information led to the realization that placing the financial burden on readers for academic publishing was not a sustainable business model (Das, 2015).

So, what constitutes Open Access Publishing? I have already hinted at it. The 2003 Berlin Declaration on Open Access Knowledge in the Science and Humanities defines Open Access contribution as work where the authors and right holders allow the following:

Readers have free global access to the work, along with permission to copy, utilize, distribute, share, and display it publicly. They may also create and share modified versions, provided they properly credit the original source. Readers are further allowed to print a limited number of copies for personal use. Furthermore, these permissions must be clearly outlined within the work itself, which is also stored in an online repository that meets certain technical criteria and is maintained by a reputable academic institution, scholarly society, government agency, or another established organization.

A world where everything I need for my research is free? As a writer, this sounds amazing. As a publisher, I have a lot of questions. I know that nothing is really free. If readers are not paying for the end published product, who is?

There are several different models of Open-Access. In the Green model, authors submit their work to an institutional repository. Typically, there is an embargo placed on the work which prohibits Open Access for a set amount of time. During the embargo period, publishers are able to monetize the work through other means like access with a journal subscription (Open Economics Guide, n.d.). Once the embargo expires, the work is available open-access. Typically, the publisher owns the copyright of work published in the green model (Taylor & Francis Author Services, n.d.). The Green model is criticized for the delay in access for readers. Especially in industries where scholars need the latest information, finding a discovery months or years after it has been made can have significant implications for a person’s work.

In the Gold model, authors submit their work and are charged an “APC”  or Article Processing Charge by the journal (Open Economics Guide, n.d.). Authors do not always pay the APC. The APC can also be paid by the institution, university, or library. In the Gold model, there is no embargo, and the author’s work is available immediately. Furthermore, the author retains the copyright to the published work. The Gold model is the most popular model for open-access publishing (Taylor & Francis Author Services, n.d.). However, it is criticized as it still creates inequities. Not all researchers have access to institutional funding, and even if they do, discrepancies exist around the world. A high APC can mean less money to put towards the actual research. Furthermore, the model favors well-funded institutions which limits new voices from contributing (Brainard, 2024). In the academic world, there is pressure to, as the saying goes, “publish or perish.” Scholars are forced to turn to other journals with different models or other methods of publishing, even if it is not the best fit for them. 

The Hybrid model allows researchers to make their work open-access by paying an APC when submitting to a subscription journal. The Hybrid model is criticized for double charging. People still have to pay a subscription, while authors who want their work to be Open Access are paying an APC (Open Economics Guide, n.d.). The Bronze model is where articles are freely accessible but have no clear license. The Bronze model is criticized as no clear license limits how published material can be reused and reduces the reliability of the journal. The Diamond model means the publisher is funded by institutions. It is free for the author to publish work, and it is free for others to read (Open Economics Guide, n.d.). However, because the Dimond model relies on institutional funding, there is an argument that it could struggle with long-term financial sustainability. Not all diamond model journals receive the same amount of funding which also creates inconsistencies with quality. 

It is clear that Open Access is imperfect. All of the different open-access models have their advocates and critics, but the underlying principle is clear: publishers can generate revenue without burdening readers with fees. This has proven successful in the world of scientific journals where Open Access first took root, but what about other areas of academia? For many applicability of Open Access to the humanities, a discipline that heavily relies on monographs and books rather than journals, remains uncertain. Could Open Access be a viable option for humanities publishers? Even if they publish books?

Open Book Publishers, a press based in Cambridge, are, in their words, “changing the nature of the traditional academic book” (Open Book Publishers, n.d.). Open Book Publishers publishes around 40 books a year. In many ways, the process of publishing with Open Book Publishers mimics traditional academic book publishing. Work is submitted, acquired, and peer-reviewed. Peer review occurs internally and occasionally, if needed, is sent to outside peers for further peer review. The production process, editing, typesetting, and indexing, occur in-house. Open Book Publishers strives to be as cost-efficient as possible and utilizes new technologies like print-on-demand to keep costs down (Barnes, 2022).

After production, the book is available for consumers to purchase. “But wait,” you might say, “that’s not Open Access?” You’re right. However, in addition to selling physical books, every book that Open Book Publishers publishes is also available freely in HTML and PDF forms online. This allows Open Book Publishers to provide Open Access content while still maintaining a revenue stream (Barnes, 2022). 

Open Book Publishers further diversified their revenue streams by utilizing a Library Membership Program where libraries pay a yearly fee to the press in exchange for benefits. Over 250 libraries are members. This innovative mixed business model allows Open Book Publishers to avoid processing fees for authors while maintaining Open Access for readers. As of February 2022, Open Book Publishers has reported 4 million interactions with our books (Barnes, 2022). 

In addition to their publishing branch, Open Book Publishers has a research and development division. This division is completely grant-funded. Open Book Publishers says that their software division is of “strategic importance” for the future (Barnes, 2022). That is because, as they say, “rather than scaling as a company ourselves, we are investing into facilitating the initiation and/or growth of other OA book projects” (Barnes, 2022) They are committed to a philosophy called “scaling small” which is a philosophy from the group COPIM or the Community-led Open Publication Infrastructures for Monographs. COPIM says that scaling small is “explicitly and intentionally an alternative to large-scale, commercial approaches to academic publishing” (COPIM, 2023)

Open Book Publishers says that scaling small is the idea “that likeminded initiatives can publish many more Open Access books by harnessing collaboration, fostering resilience and bibliodiversity through working together instead of competing” (Open Book Publishers, n.d.) Open Book Publishers have been relentlessly committed to this principle. Most recently, they announced that they will be leading Open Book Futures. Open Book Futures is an infrastructure initiative that builds off of the work of COPIM to further develop systems that support community-owned Open Access book publishing (Open Book Publishers, 2023). Their research and development branch has allowed Open Book Publishers to contribute to innovation, but even outside of this, the company truly lives by their mission of encouraging collaboration. The transparency of Open Book Publishers is commendable, as they openly share their expenditures and provide easy access to their balance sheets through their website. They not only talk about their practices, but they also demonstrate how they are put into action so that others can follow in their footsteps. 

Open-Access itself is an innovative practice that responds to the financial and accessibility barriers often created by paywalled journals. It increases the reach of scholarly work and accelerates the dissemination of knowledge. Open Book Publishers took an already innovative practice with various models of implementation and created a model that worked best for their needs. Furthermore, they implemented other innovative practices such as print-on-demand, EPUB books, and digitizing their publications.

For those who work outside of the field of academic publishing, the concept of Open Access may seem obscure or irrelevant. But as the world becomes increasingly interconnected and the flow of information becomes more rapid and accessible, it is crucial for all parts of the publishing industry to keep an eye on emerging trends and innovative practices. In a fiercely competitive industry where budgets are constantly being squeezed, being adaptable and implementing a new publishing practice may be the key that unlocks the possibility of bringing a project to life. The evolution of Open Access and the example of Open Book Publishers is a case study of how publishers can implement innovative practices to remain adaptable. The Open Access movement asks publishers to reimagine their accessibility and reach, explore new funding models, consider their social mission, and engage their community. Beyond its implications for academic publishing, the Open Access movement also reminds us of the importance of staying informed on innovative practices. 

If you think you have nothing to learn from the story of Open Access, you’re wrong. Open Access shows the paramount importance of collaboration in driving innovation forward. Innovation does not occur in a vacuum, but thrives in community, at conferences like these. We all have something to teach, and we all have something to learn. The Open Access movement and Open Book Publishers have shown us that innovation is not something to own, but something to lead.

Reference List 

Barnes, L. (2022) 'Open Book Publishers', Business Models for Open Access Books [Preprint]. Available at: https://oabooksbusinessmodels.pubpub.org/pub/open-book-publishers.

Brainard, J. (2024) “Open for Business: authors are increasingly paying to publish their papers open access. But is it fair or sustainable?”, Science. Available at: https://www.science.org/content/article/pay-publish-model-open-access-pricing-scientists

COPIM (2023) Scaling Small: Community-Owned Futures for Open Access Books, Scaling Small. Available at: https://scalingsmall.pubpub.org/.

Das, A. K. (2015) “Serials Crisis,” In: Mishra, S. & Satija, M.P. (eds.), Open Access for Researchers, Module 1: Scholarly Communication. Paris: UNESCO, pp. 44-67. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274007827_The_Serials_Crisis.

Max Planck Society (2003) Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities. Berlin: Max Planck Society. Available at: https://openaccess.mpg.de/Berlin-Declaration.

Open Access Network (2024) History of the Open Access Movement. Available at: https://open-access.network/en/information/open-access-primers/history-of-the-open-access-movement.

Open Book Publishers (2023) Open Book Publishers takes leading role in £5.8 million project to significantly expand open access book infrastructures, Open Book Publishers Blog. Available at: https://blogs.openbookpublishers.com/open-book-publishers-takes-leading-role-in-project-to-significantly-expand-open-access-book-infrastructures/.

Open Economics (n.d.) The Meaning of the Different Types and Colours of Open Access. Available at: https://openeconomics.zbw.eu/en/knowledgebase/the-meaning-of-the-different-types-and-colours-of-open-access/.

Taylor & Francis Author Services (n.d.) What are the gold and green open access publishing options? Available at: https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/choose-open/publishing-open-access/oa-green-gold/#:~:text=they%20do%20so.-,What%20is%20green%20open%20access%3F,having%20to%20pay%20an%20APC.