Open Access Agreement
nounPronunciation: /ˈoʊpən ˈæksɛs əˈɡriːmənt/
A contractual arrangement between authors and a journal specifying that published articles will be freely accessible to the public without subscription or payment barriers. These agreements may require authors to pay processing fees and typically include licensing terms governing how readers can use the published content.
Plain English
A contract allowing published articles to be read for free by anyone online without subscription fees.
Etymology & History
Usage
"Authors who sign an open access agreement must typically pay an article processing charge to cover publication costs."
Style guide notes: Specify the licensing type (CC-BY, etc.) when discussing OA agreements in formal writing.
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Contrasted with
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Do open access agreements require authors to pay fees?
Most do; article processing charges (APCs) cover peer review, editing, and hosting costs.
What licensing terms typically apply to open access articles?
Creative Commons licenses (CC-BY, CC-BY-NC) define how readers can share and reuse content.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Essential for understanding modern publishing economics and ethical accessibility principles in academic dissemination.
Required skill level: Mid