Why choose Open Access?

• Visibility – Open Access publications reach a much broader audience, because they are not subject to access restrictions such as paywalls. Currently, most scholarly publications are only accessible if research institutions have subscribed to the respective journals or collections.

• Scientific progress – The greater distribution of Open Access publications widens possibilities for new research questions and facilitates analysis of research results from different perspectives.

• Public funding – Most research findings are made possible through public funding. As a consequence, funding bodies often expect that these findings be made publicly accessible.

What to look out for

• Peer Review – Just like for any other journal, Open Access publications require quality control measures. Different journals and publishers apply varying standards when deciding on whether or not to accept a contribution for publication, depending on their subject area and reputation.

• Licensing – Many Open Access journals use Creative Commons licenses. These help authors specify the conditions that should apply to the use or distribution of their work.

• Costs – Open Access does not mean free. Publication costs must be borne by authors or the institutions they are employed by, funding organizations, or the publishers themselves. Many Open Access journals do not charge publication fees, however.