Plan S study shows huge scope of open-access change needed

Vast majority of journals used by funders’ researchers will not be acceptable in future

Researchers supported by funders participating in the controversial open-access publishing initiative Plan S have been using journals with policies soon to be banned by the initiative about 80 per cent of the time, an independent study has revealed.

Under Plan S, participating funders Coalition S will require the researchers they support to make their work openly available immediately in certain outlets from 2021. Hybrid journals that offer immediate open access alongside subscription options will be permitted, but only if they transition to full open access by the end of 2024.