The American Physical Society will consider changing its copyright policy to be more accepting of open-access publishing, according to a forthcoming article in New Scientist.
According to the article, some physicists were frustrated that the society withdrew its offer to publish their studies in the journal Physical Review Letters after the authors asked the society for an agreement allowing them to republish their research in Wikipedia. About 40 physicists are asking the society to change its policy, which requires scientists to hand over their copyrights to the society before their works are published in the society’s journals.
Gene Sprouse, editor-in-chief of the group’s journals, is quoted saying that he will give serious consideration to the scientists’ request.—-Andrea L. Foster
