randform

“In January 2006 the European Commission published the Study on the Economic and Technical Evolution of the Scientific Publication Markets of Europe.
The Study noted that ‘dissemination and access to research results is a pillar in the development of the European Research Area’ and it made a number of balanced and reasonable recommendations to improve the visibility and usefulness of European research outputs.”

Our mission of disseminating knowledge is only half complete if the information is not made widely and readily available to society.
Berlin Declaration, October 2003

(both quotes from the petition website)

Now, a year after publication of the Study a petition had been filed to urge the EC to endorse the recommendations in full. For signing the petition for open access to research results:

->go to petition website

examples of open access to science publications:
->Cream of science and DAREnet
->THE archive
-> MIT’s open courseware

At this point one should maybe remind the EU about the benefits of open source software and communities for their research institutions. These open initiatives are supported by individuals who contribute to the community usually in their free time. They do this for various reasons but mostly for the fun of it or because they think it is needed and that everyone should have access to information. The EU however usually funds only projects which can be sold afterwards.