Researchers sign petition backing plans to end paywalls

More than 1,400 researchers have signed an online letter backing the principles of Plan S, the bold open-access initiative led by research agencies in Europe who say that, by 2020, papers resulting from their funding should be immediately free to read on publication, writes Richard Van Noorden for Nature.

The petition, launched on 28 November, comes as scientists continue to debate the pros and cons of the European-led plan, which was announced in September and is now supported by 16 national science funders and charities. The online letter argues that Plan S – which dictates that research papers be immediately free to read – will not impinge on academic freedom, as some critics claim.

“The only way to achieve universal open access to the scientific literature is for research funders to require it of their grantees. They're finally doing it, but are taking a LOT of flak,” tweeted the letter’s organiser, Michael Eisen, a geneticist at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States, and a long-time proponent of open-access publishing. The plan is out for public consultation until 1 February.
Full report on the Nature site