Gold open access publishing has proved to be successful, but it has certain limitations. This essay probes what those limitations are, but it argues that OA’s limitations do not outweigh its strengths. Gold OA most usefully coexists with traditional publishing models.
In a decision that may have deep and wide-ranging implications for the publishing industry and for future applications of the fair use doctrine, Judge Denny Chin has dismissed the Authors Guild’s eight-year-old lawsuit against Google over its Google Books project.
This is an essay on what it would mean to create a university press that operates at Web scale. It speculates about what such an endeavor would look like and probes some aspects of the financial model.
A new report from Simba surveys the current scientific and technical publishing markets. These segments are essentially flat. Incumbents are seeking growth elsewhere. Interestingly, open access has not had much of an impact on the revenue of traditional publications.
A set of short films illustrating the state of the art in publishing technology, circa 1925.
Providing free access to online books has no effect on sales and citations but increase online downloads. A critical review of the study’s research proposal three years ago foretold these very results.
It is challenging to come up with an open access program for books that is financially sustainable. One strategy has been proposed by Unglue.it, which uses crowdfunding to purchases copyrights from authors.
Is there really a strict divide between readers of books and ebooks?
Newly available material from Richard Feynman offers a joyous way to spend your Friday celebrating the wonder of the world.
Why do ebooks—and e-information generally—cause such teeth-grinding rage and rhetorical hysteria in some people?
Many CEOs of publishing companies find themselves having to manage two companies: the established company and an in-house start-up that is designed to participate in a new paradigm based on digital media. Organizationally this is a very difficult situation to be in, but it is essential if a company is going to persist in the years ahead.
A ten minute course in practical typography and a charming short film on its history. A great way to spend your Friday learning some valuable skills.
While open access remains a hot topic in our industry, we may not be discussing the most difficult aspects. Worse, OA proponents themselves may not be answering some of the questions that are now arising as a broader swath of academics, scientists, and administrators become aware of OA.
American literature is markedly poorer this week with the death of Elmore Leonard, the undisputed dean of crime fiction.
Time to review summer reading, not only what is on the list but also the very idea of summer reading. Summer reading takes us to a place outside ourselves, but for people involved with publishing, that far-off place is part of day-to-day reality.