Plan S guidance welcomed, but doubts remain

Research organisations have broadly welcomed guidance outlining how the Plan S initiative to increase open-access publishing will be implemented by funders, but have asked for yet more detail.

The League of European Research Universities welcomed the guidance document, which was published on 27 November, saying it “puts flesh on the bones” of Plan S. Leru said that the majority of the concerns it had raised in response to initial announcements around Plan S had been addressed.

These included that it would be “impossible” for Plan S to bring about a full transition to open access by 2020. Under the plan, researchers supported by funders signed up to Plan S will be required to make their work openly available immediately from 2020. The guidance document clarified that 1 January will mark only the point from which researchers funded by new calls are expected to be compliant.