Why do publishing companies own tax payer funded research information?

[gravenewworld]

<p>It’s time universities should start creating their own open access journals and peer review them among themselves. The publishing cartels charge outrageous fees that do nothing more than increase tuition costs for everyone. The vast majority of the work that goes into academic journals mostly come from tax payer funded resources, so why are private companies allowed to make huge amounts of profit off what should be public information?</p>

<p>[Academic</a> publishers make Murdoch look like a socialist | George Monbiot | Comment is free | The Guardian](<a href=“http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/29/academic-publishers-murdoch-socialist]Academic”>Academic publishers make Murdoch look like a socialist | George Monbiot | The Guardian)</p>

<p>

Who are the most ruthless capitalists in the western world? Whose monopolistic practices make Walmart look like a corner shop and Rupert Murdoch a socialist? You won’t guess the answer in a month of Sundays. While there are plenty of candidates, my vote goes not to the banks, the oil companies or the health insurers, but – wait for it – to academic publishers. Theirs might sound like a fusty and insignificant sector. It is anything but. Of all corporate scams, the racket they run is most urgently in need of referral to the competition authorities.

</p>

[Erin_s_Dad]

<p>Interesting article. Thanks for posting.</p>