Should Contents be made freely available online? Source: Me
This speaker explains the argument for Open Access of research papers very well.
Here are some views from people in the research field:
One key point we will notice from this video: Irregardless of stance on open access, ALL of them feel that the current structure and policies governing open access to scholarly articles needs change to make it sustainable. Which is one of the main problems with open access: Sustainability. A totally open access model is not sustainable, lack of funding or revenue might lead to a decreased quality of research being published.
We must also note that not all content online is about research papers, articles and journals. And paying for contents may not be bad.
90% of online content to be held behind paywalls in three years
Although the prophecy wasn’t fulfilled, it highlights the trend that more and more content on the web being held behind a paywall. And it is understandable why.
Money makes the world go round, or at least in the business world. By paying for a content you are generating revenue for the content producer. This in turn will encourage them to produce more and/or better quality content. An increase in revenue also provides the producer with funds to purchase more and better equipment to aid them in content producing. Also in an economic sense, the more money is in that industry, the more business will want in and the level of competition will raise. This has a positive impact on content quality.
Let us take the digital music industry as an example
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/276501/online-music-revenue-forecast-by-type-of-service/
With the increase in spending on digital music year-on-year, more music producers will want in on this. Existing producers will also work hard to create better music in order to fight the competition and have a bigger proportion of the market share. Consumers are the ones benefiting. Although I am aware of the issue of sustainability that comes with it.
My stance on producers making their content freely accessible is contextual. For content relating to the betterment of the world such as medical journals. I fully support an open access model.
On the other hand, contents such as music, movies, games, applications should preferably be held behind a paywall. With the law of economy working its magic and benefiting us as consumers.
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References:
The Drum. (2016). 90% of online content to be held behind paywalls in three years media company survey suggests. [online] Available at: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/12/90-online-content-be-held-behind-paywalls-three-years-media-company-survey-suggests [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Estimated end-user spending for online music worldwide from 2008 to 2015, t. (2016). Worldwide online music revenue 2015 | Statistic. [online] Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/276501/online-music-revenue-forecast-by-type-of-service/ [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Medscape. (2016). Pros and Cons of Open-Access Publishing Debated. [online] Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464149 [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
To Learning & Infinity 
Hi Jeremiah, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog post and the videos that you have shared are highly relevant for me to understand more about open access. You have provided a very good viewpoint on open access, which is to enable open access for medical journals to benefit overall health of the users and to enforce a paywall for entertainments purposes such as games and movies. This is a fair solution regarding open access. As you mentioned that sustainability is a problem for open access, what solution would you suggest in order for total open access to be available as long as possible?
-Walden
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Hi Walden, my suggestion for this problem is to pass on the cost to taxpayers and/or direct beneficiaries of the research. Although not in a privatization kind of way. What concerns me with this is the effect it could have on the credibility and quality of work being produced. Which would bring us to this question: Is the trade-off worth it? More studies and trial runs need to be done regarding this. But my opinion is eventually, mankind will succeed to an extent in making open access research available. There no will no doubt be some degree of privatization remaining. But it will be a marked improvement from this current state.
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Hey Jeremiah,
I found your take on the topic as quite sensible and critical. I was able to appreciate your statement that the benefits of open access to content are contextual.
Towards the end of your post you mention that music, movies, games and applications should be preferably held behind a paywall.
But I would like to know your thoughts on those artists and developers who are not known and are striving to build a presence. Online Game stores such as STEAM feature ‘early access’ games that are free to play while in development thereby creating a community and building presence with the public.
Even in the case of music artists, there are those who make available their content free to access in order to reach out as much as possible.
Do you not think it would be feasible and reasonable to make available their products and content free in order to maximise visibility and reputation?
Cheers!
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