5
2. Move away from the current rights assignment models.
Future “Big Deals” should pave the way for a future of scientific publishing where publicly funded
research is freely available from multiple competing platforms, whether operated for profit or
not-for-profit, including platforms operated by the research community itself.15 Therefore, future
deals with scientific publishers should depart from the rights assignment model that still prevails
today. Rather than forcing authors to individually negotiate with publishers, universities and other
research institutions might consider reserving certain rights in employee-produced publications
to themselves, for example, by way of (collectively bargained) labour agreements. In addition,
funding organisations should ensure that all researchers participating in the research they fund
commit to publishing the research outcomes under an OA model that does not impose APCs or
embargos.
3. Harmonise EU legislation to allow publication of post-print versions without embargo.
ALLEA recommends that national legislatures follow the example of an increasing number of
European states in providing for Secondary Publication Rights that give researchers the right to
make the post-print version (i.e., the Version of Record) of articles that are the product of fully and
partially publicly funded research available in public repositories without embargo. Authors of
scholarly books, scholarly book chapters, and edited research books should also be encouraged
to publish their work in OA where reasonably possible. Ideally, such Secondary Publication Rights
should be harmonised and made mandatory at the EU level.5,10 In doing so, the EU would set an
important step towards operationalizing the 2018 European Commission Recommendation, which
advised that all scientific publications resulting from publicly funded research be available OA
by 2020,16 while refraining from creating new barriers for authors. Additionally, with a view to
international collaborations that go beyond the EU, further efforts should be made to harmonise
Secondary Publication Rights globally.
4. Develop a sustainable non-profit publishing ecosystem.
Finally, ALLEA recommends that research institutions and funding organisations prioritise the
development of a sustainable non-profit publishing ecosystem that allows for OA of scientific
publications without imposing undue financial barriers to publication, and that prevents scarce
financial resources from being syphoned off by the private sector.3 The development of community-
driven journals that charge no fees to authors and readers (Diamond OA) are an important
contribution to a more equitable publishing landscape and an enrichment in bibliodiversity. ALLEA
therefore welcomes and supports the Action Plan for Diamond Open Access that was published
in March 2022.17
15 For example, Latin America has demonstrated for many years that an OA system based around federated institutional
repositories works very well, and inspiration should be drawn from initiatives like Redalyc and SciELO.
16 European Commission Recommendation on access to and preservation of scientific information, 2018/790. https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2018/790/oj
17 Science Europe, cOAlition S, OPERAS, and the French National Research Agency (ANR). “Action Plan for Diamond Open
Access” (2022): https://www.scienceeurope.org/media/t3jgyo3u/202203-diamond-oa-action-plan.pdf
6 About ALLEA ALLEA is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, representing more than 50 academies from 39 countries in Europe. Since its foundation in 1994, ALLEA speaks out on behalf of its members on the European and international stages, promotes science as a global public good, and facilitates scientific collaboration across borders and disciplines. Learn more: www.allea.org About this Statement This ALLEA statement has been prepared by ALLEA’s Permanent Working Group on IPR, with Prof P. Bernt Hugenholtz as principal author. Through its Working and Expert Groups, ALLEA provides input on behalf of European academies to pressing societal, scientific and science-policy debates and their underlying legislations. With its work, ALLEA seeks to ensure that science and research in Europe can excel and serve the interests of society. Read more about the ALLEA Permanent Working Group on IPR and its members: www.allea.org/intellectual-property-rights