Intellectual Property or Intellectual Propaganda?

Everywhere you look, everyone wants to stand up for something. People are Pro- life, choice, and pretty much any noun with a positive connotation. No one wants to be anti-anything, because those are the naysayers who are destroying our country, right?

But this entire concept of antithetical positives creates a false dichotomy that inaccurately describes the options. Who's going to say "Oh, I just despise life" or "There's nothing I hate more than choice"? Pretty much no one, in my opinion. And honestly, neither of those descriptors actually get to the fundamental issues of privacy, maternal health, and reproductive rights.

That's why, if you listen to the rhetoric, opponents of OA aren't opposing anything at all! They're just for intellectual property rights. But peel back the shiny label and the same malfunctioning product is there. And it's time we turn it right around and demand a full refund. Oppose closed access and contact your representatives about HR801!

Nathan

Knowledge is Water

From Watergate to Downing Street, governments around the world operate on a need-to-know basis in which information is power and ignorance is bliss. This, it would seem, is a necessity for healthy governance, especially when information that could jeopardize national security is at hand. But sometimes, the definition of who, exactly, "needs" to know can call into question the structural integrity of this notion's entire foundation.

The assumption that one is entitled to information while others are not based upon some ambiguous measure of importance is like dumbbell curls of the ego muscles. And, what's more, it perpetuates the status quo of what I call knowledge elitism: I am better than you because I know more than you. Instead of basing exclusivity on geographic location, social status, or family connections, this paradigm establishes a hierarchy of importance based on the sole factor of access to information. And it is a cancer in our society.

Whether this desire to be counted among the knowledge elite stems from some nagging inferiority complex induced by schoolyard bullying or something entirely different, it does not matter. The end result is a system which treats information as a luxury, one reserved only for those who can afford it. Given this entrenched philosophy, it should come as no surprise that water is being bottled and sold for a dollar when it was once freely available in superior quality and quantity from the tap. Water, like knowing, has become a private commodity with varying degrees of access based on how much you are willing to spend.

But this system stands contrary to the desires of nature. According to the natural order, no one can claim ownership of water any more than purview over the stars in the heavens or dominion over the fish in the seas. So too goes for knowledge: it is a common resource, to be shared by, and implemented for the benefit of, the community. The more we lose sight of this truth, the more dire the consequences, because the severe deleterious effects a dearth of water access has on a community's health are analogous to those a lack of open access has on the pace of research. Every stumbling block retards the growth of science, resulting in far reaching consequences that present themselves in the long term.

In other words, knowledge is water. It's good for you and everyone needs it. So let's stop pretending that it's some exclusive commodity for the well-connected or well-paid. Because everyone knows the faucet only runs when it's open.

Nathan

Why is HR801 referred to the Judiciary Committee, when there's a perfectly good one on Science and Technology?

The solution very well may lie in the legal nuance of the bill, but a simpler answer seems obvious to me. As many of you may remember from your High School civics class, most bills die in committee. Therefore, by directing the controversial HR801 to under his own auspices, John Conyers (D-MI), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, can shepard the bill through with a higher chance of success.

In addition, it appears that the bill would have faced fierce competition in the House Committee on Science and Technology, given that its Chairman, Bart Gordon (D-TN), has stated: "Scientific progress occurs when we foster the open exchange of ideas and information." Sounds like a central tenet of Open Access, and seems like Representative Gordon would have little sympathy for HR801.

What we need to do is pull the plug on this bill before it builds momentum, and that means nipping it at its congressional bud: Committee. Here's a list of all the members of the House Committee on the Judiciary. If your representative is on this list, please make a concerted effort to contact them and make your opposition to HR801 heard.

Nathan

Following the money on HR801

Two days ago, I issued an urgent call to action concerning HR801, re-introduced by Congressional Representative John Conyers (D-MI), which would essentially reverse the NIH Open Access policy. I have much respect for Representative Conyers, especially on his health care policies. Thus, I was greatly disturbed upon hearing of this development.

I wanted to know why Conyers would do such a thing, and began investigating the money trail on Conyers' campaign contributions (thanks Alex for the idea!). What I came upon sank my heart. According to Open Secrets, Conyers' third single largest campaign contributor in 2008 was the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), whose "Key Bills of the 111th Congress" include HR801. Surprised? Shouldn't be. Money talks, and big money talks that much louder.

The AIPLA, like the bill it hawks, has a deceptive name. It seems the association is more interested in limiting public access to research it funded than protecting "intellectual property". Perhaps the AIPLA should consider the fact that, in essence, the research is the "intellectual property" of the taxpayers whose money went into it. But of course this private organization has the interest of its members closest to its mission; I only had hoped that Conyers would do the same for his constituents. Perhaps it is no wonder that the Congressional job approval rating averages less than 30%.

But don't let this news dishearten you. Conyers can't pass the bill on his own, no matter how much money he has behind him. Contact your Representatives and appeal to the better angels of their nature. Stop HR801 now, and in 2010 we can elect responsible persons to represent us.

Nathan

Imaginet

I was listening to the great song Imagine by John Lennon and decided to modify the lyrics for Web 2.0 (if you need help getting the melody in your head, here's a nice music video):

Imagine there's no paper,
It's easy if you type.
We can talk among us
Online, using Skype.
Internet for all the people's
Status on Twitter...

Imagine there's no limits
On what research can do;
Nothing to stop and wait for,
And no payments too.
Imagine all the research
Open for all to see...

You may say that I'm a Digger,
And the internet has won.
I hope Open Access will succeed,
And the world will read PLoS ONE.

Imagine no limitations,
But only if we stand
Up against the greed
In an alliance quite grand.
Imagine all the people
Sharing the knowledge...

You may say that I'm a Digger,
And the internet has won.
I hope Open Access will succeed,
And the world will read PLoS ONE.

Stand for Open Access, Oppose HR801

The most painful defeat is an overturned victory. And this very well may happen if supporters of OA do not respond. Congressional Representative John Conyers (D-MI) has re-introduced a bill (HR801) that essentially would negate the NIH policy concerning depositing research in OA repositories.

The bill's name in no way reflects its purpose: Fair Copyright in Research Works Act. A more apt title would go something similar to Fallacious Companies in Research Win Again, in order to retain its possible acronym. Jennifer McLennan, Director of Communications over at SPARC, issued a letter in which she outlines the five key characteristics of the bill, quoted below:

H.R. 801 is designed to amend current copyright law and create a new category of copyrighted works (Section 201, Title 17). In effect, it would:

1. Prohibit all U.S. federal agencies from conditioning funding agreements to require that works resulting from federal support be made publicly available if those works are either: a) funded in part by sources other than a U.S. agency, or b) the result of "meaningful added value" to the work from an entity that is not party to the agreement.

2. Prohibit U.S. agencies from obtaining a license to publicly distribute, perform, or display such work by, for example, placing it on the Internet.

3. Stifle access to a broad range of federally funded works, overturning the crucially important NIH Public Access Policy and preventing other agencies from implementing similar policies.

4. Because it is so broadly framed, the proposed bill would require an overhaul of the well-established procurement rules in effect for all federal agencies, and could disrupt day-to-day procurement practices across the federal government.

5. Repeal the longstanding "federal purpose" doctrine, under which all federal agencies that fund the creation of a copyrighted work reserve the "royalty-free, nonexclusive right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work" for any federal purpose. This will severely limit the ability of U.S. federal agencies to use works that they have funded to support and fulfill agency missions and to communicate with and educate the public.

In the letter, McLennan goes on to encourage all those involved in and impacted by the OA movement to take action and contact their representatives in order to rally opposition to this bill. A draft letter text is available. I encourage all to participate and take a stand to defend OA and public access to scientific research.

Nathan

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Love in the Time of Closed Access

Romance and courtship, love and loss, life and death. Though these are not characteristics of the OA movement, their presence is ubiquitous in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's classic novel, and no less pervasive globally. And as Valentine's day approaches, I thought I could discuss science's love affair with OA (or perhaps something more?) by considering a few key ways to ensure the establishment of a sound and flourishing relationship.

Lay a strong foundation. On this point, we've succeeded rather well. Two key publishers including Public Library of Science and BioMed Central have emblazoned a suitable path to the golden destination of OA. But already cracks are visible. Questions concerning the peer review process, academic validity, and publishing guidelines have been raised concerning those publishers that do not charge for OA publication. These imperfections must be addressed, and constant inspection ensured.

It takes two to tango. It's all about cooperation, and that often means compromise. The world isn't going to change in a day, but through strategic partnerships among and between academia, publishers, and government, progress can, and has, been made. Without this elemental teamwork, no relationship (whether it be personal or philosophical), can be maintained.

Keep the flame alive. The period of honeymoon, infatuation, novelty, call it whatever you will, the meaning changes none at all: something that is new is exciting, and as that newness fades, the excitement often follows suit. And in the end, complacency is much more comfortable than action. Though difficult, avoiding this rut is exactly what must be done in order to guarantee the healthy longevity of the OA movement.

Nathan

New Blog!

I started a new blog entitled Social Justice Science. It's opinion on two topics that are very dear to my heart: Social Justice and Science. Also, I examine instances when these two ideas come together. With the power of technology and science ever increasing, it is important to consider the moral compass that guides the direction of progress. This is what I attempt to do with the new blog. I titled my most recent post Ghostwriting the R.I.P. examining the sticky issue of ghostwriting (not attributing authorship) in today's medical publishing paradigm. I encourage all of you to go check it out.

Nathan

PLoS ONE Introduces Collections

On January 30th, PLoS ONE tried something new. While the pioneering OA journal had always categorized all of its research articles into subject areas (physics, mathematics, biochemistry, etc.) and publication date (PLoS ONE publishes on a daily schedule now in order to facilitate the high volume of research it processes), a new option in the Browse Articles menu was introduced a few days ago.

Collections they are called, and fascinating they are certainly. The idea is similar to the concept-driven magazine issue, with a coherent focus on the theme or topic of the week/month. The only difference being that the articles represent novel research as opposed to journalistic reporting. As PLoS ONE is a formidably large journal, collections will help simplify the organization of research into accessible units.

Not all of the PLoS ONE articles will be published into collections. Instead, according to its website PLoS ONE will "from time to time" develop a collection in order to "highlight specific topics." Though not stated explicitly, it may be a reasonable guess to think that new collections may be a monthly addition, similar to the publishing schedule of its more prestigious sister journals, PLoS Medicine and PLoS Biology.

The first collection is entitled Stress-Induced Depression and Comorbidities: From Bench to Bedside and tackles a research field of growing interest to many neuroscientists. This body of work comprises two Overviews and eleven Research Articles, the collective results produced from several international research institutes. I encourage all of you to check it out.

Nathan