Open access: definitions, issues and trends

In this chapter we introduce the concept of open access (OA) and explore the key issues that editors face in the complex and fast-changing scholarly communications environment. The aim is to provide the information needed to enable you to recognise the options you have as a journal editor, and to inform the decisions you will need to make for your journal. The chapter begins with an introduction to the concept of OA and provides a brief history of the OA movement from its beginnings in the 1970s, through its formalisation in the 2000s, to today's global OA landscape. It then explains the various approaches to OA with a focus on the dominant green and gold models, and highlights the key issues journal editors must consider when determining an OA policy for their journal. After explaining the current OA policy environment, at both institutional and funder levels, the chapter discusses copyright and licensing, and the concept of embargo periods. Finally, it covers the complexities of the current and emerging OA landscape, including transformative agreements, the impact of PlanS, and evolving author attitudes to OA.