Open Access and Ethics
University of Hull Open Access Blog
2 Pages Posted: 14 Nov 2016
Date Written: November 1, 2016
Abstract
Open access utilizes this age of globalization and Internet to connect between the privileged and the less privileged. Wealth of information that otherwise is denied to some parts of the world becomes available. Scholars and other interested people in Africa, South America, Asia as well as in developing countries in other continents are able to read online valuable information without paying prohibitive subscription fees and without violating copyrights laws. Open access helps to increase knowledge and to decrease inequality; it enriches people and cultures and broadens the community of knowledgeable scholars. Open access is a tool of empowerment and communication: it creates bridges and brings scholars together. However, with the growth of the open access movement the number of journals has been growing exponentially. In addition to the established publishers, new publishers have entered the market and they have flooded it with thousands of new journals of varied quality. I am getting at least one request a week to publish my articles in one of those journals. One has reason to suspect that many of these journals do not engage in scholarly activities but in fraud. Many of those bogus new journals have no intention to observe academic standards of peer review. Open access has facilitated scholarly prostitution. It is harming our profession.
Keywords: open access, ethics, Internet, information, abuse, fraud, academic prostitution
JEL Classification: Z00
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation