Chemical Society Rebuts Anonymous Accusations of Self-Interest in Opposing Open Access

By JJ Hermes

An anonymous e-mail message accusing the American Chemical Society of opposing open-access publishing in order to preserve the profitability of its journals and, in turn, the bonuses that its top executives receive has prompted a public defense from the chair of the society's Board of Directors.

The open-access movement seeks to make scientific literature freely available. Executives from the chemical society have opposed legislation that would impose such requirements, saying