Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

New group of European OA law journals

Open Law Journals Group, Justification and Draft Principles for an Open Law Journals Group, SCRIPTed, December 15, 2009.

... [A] number of journals that use the open access model of publishing met at the University of Edinburgh in August 2009. Attendees included representatives of the following online journals: [Note: omitting list of 5 British OA law journals.] ...

The objective of the meeting was to establish a group that would represent European open access journals and act as a means of communication and support between them. This document offers a rationale for such a group, and provides a list of basic governing principles that we hope to use as the foundation for increasing its membership and activity. ...

The OLG is intended to be a formal and expanding community which represents the interests of open access journals and the free utilisation of high quality scholarship. The advantages of membership in such a group are myriad, as evidenced by the suggested remit of the OLG, which is to facilitate:

  • a means of communication and cooperation amongst open access journals;
  • enhancement of open access to sound technical advice and support;
  • joint projects such as workshops and conferences directed both at the open access movement and, more generally, at scholarship supported by it; and
  • better support and standard-setting in the open access environment.

The formal structure and constitution of the OLG will be decided at a future European Meeting to which all relevant journals will be invited. ...