new Gates policy on APCs

[Glenn Hampson]

Thanks to Rob Johnson for flagging this announcement: Updates to the Gates Foundation Open Access Policy for 2025 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

 

In a nutshell, Gates is going to stop paying for APCs in 2025 and will instead “require” the use of preprints. I’m confused. From the language of the announcement, this new policy seems to reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of research publishing. That is, in most fields, preprints are not the final version of record (Preprints become papers less often when the authors are from lower-income countries (nature.com). So rather than “paving the way for more equitable publishing models,” this policy instead backs away from open access and allows researchers to publish their VOR where ever they want (“preserving grantee publishing choices”). At least with the US Public Policy program (via the Holdren memo), which threw its weight behind creating more green open, researchers are required to make their VOR public after an embargo period.

 

Am I misreading this? I don’t want to assume the Gates Foundation is being cynical here (by saying “we’re for open access” while at the same time backing away from OA publishing and saving tons of cash in the process). My concern, rather, is that they’ve created a policy which will result in outcomes exactly the opposite of their intended goal.

 

Best,

 

Glenn

 

Glenn Hampson
Executive Director
Science Communication Institute (SCI)