Elsevier does a U-turn in open-access row

Journal publisher Elsevier has withdrawn its support for the anti-open-access Research Works Act in the United States. Elsevier previously supported the bill saying open-access agreements should be voluntary, but now says that although it still opposes government mandates it has withdrawn its support from the act. The company faces opposition to its publishing policies: more than 7,400 researchers signed a petition stating they would not carry out certain types of work for the firm.