The Open Access Rainbow

Freely accessible journal articles on publishers’ servers, but without clear details on reuse

• Archives of subscription journals

Limitations

Without clear licences, article reuse is highly limited

First publication as an article in Open Access journals. Publication costs are covered by authors, usually in the form of APCs.

• PLOS ONE
• Frontiers Journals

Limitations

Inequitable APC costs and the propagation of a highly damaging business model

Subscription-based journals that offer authors the option of paying a fee (APC) to make their individual articles freely available online under an open access license.

• There’s a long list here

Limitations

Institutions are often charged for APCs and subscriptions, resulting in them paying twice

A publication is free of charge both for readers and for authors.

• There’s a long list here

Limitations

Publication costs still exist and sustainability is currently an unsolved issue

Secondary publication of publications from access-restricted journals or books on institutional or subject-specific repositories.

• Preprint servers
• Author websites

Limitations

Publications may only be freely available after an embargo period