Open Access(Re-)De-Commodification in Academic Knowledge Distribution?
Author(s) -
Michael Nentwich
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
science and technology studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.675
H-Index - 14
ISSN - 2243-4690
DOI - 10.23987/sts.55134
Subject(s) - commodification , publishing , commodity , distribution (mathematics) , perspective (graphical) , academic community , sociology , political science , social science , public relations , positive economics , economics , law , economy , market economy , computer science , mathematical analysis , mathematics , artificial intelligence
This paper argues that the system of formal scholarly publication is entering its third phase of evolution. This phase has not yet taken full shape, but is characterised by a strong de-commodified core with only niches for commercial publishers – in contrast to phase II which was the age of increasing commodification. The main reasons for this development are economic, functional and ideational. The current economic crisis of academic publishing is driving academia to alternative models. From a functional perspective, the advent of E-publishing makes it possible that academia will take over most of what is currently done by the commercial publishers. Finally, the last decade has seen an increasing awareness of the research community that its products should not be treated as a commodity, but should instead be freely available to the whole community.