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(doi:10.1087/095315108X323857) The implementation of digital rights management technology in other media sectors provides valuable lessons to publishers. In electronic publishing, digital rights management must form part of a flexible solution to the problem of unauthorized digital reproduction and distribution of copyright works – rather than relying on an academic culture of trust. Creaser C, Whate S. Trends in journal prices: an analysis of selected journals, 2000–2006. Learned Publishing 2008;21:214–224. (www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/downloads/op37.pdf) Examines overall price, price per page, and price per point of impact factor for institutional subscriptions for biomedical and social science journals for 11 publishers. Prices, and rates of increase, vary considerably. There is some evidence that not-for-profit publishers may, on average, offer better value for money in terms of price per page and price per point of impact factor. Dray T. Pat on back is premature. APS News 2008;17(8):4. (http://tinyurl.com/3uwymd) Comments on letter by WG Unruh and the response of APS to it (APS News 17(6):8), in which the editors rebut criticisms that do not appear to have been levelled at the APS, while completely ignoring the one that was; and calls for public discussion of the conditions that APS still imposes through its copyright practice. Freese MH. Copyright decision a matter of principle. APS News 2008;17(8):4. (http://tinyurl.com/3uwymd) Letter commenting on that of WG Unruh (APS News 17(6):8), saying some changes in APS copyright language are clearly appropriate; the best principle should be based on the contribution of the author and the journal: the ideas and data should clearly belong to the authors, and the reviewed, edited, laid out, and delivered copy should belong to the community through the journal. Glasziou P, Meats E, Heneghan C, Shepperd S. What is missing from descriptions of treatment in trials and reviews? BMJ 2008;336:1472–1474. (doi:10.1136/bmj.39590.732037.47) Replicating non-pharmacological treatments depends on how well they have been described in research studies. Current trials and reviews often omit crucial details of treatments, and clinicians need details of how to use treatments tested in trials. Providing some additional details could improve the uptake of trial results in clinical practice. Landis GA. Copyright causes conflict of interest. APS News 2008;17(8):4. (www.phy.syr.edu/WhatsNew_files/APS%20Aug08%20Matt%20West.pdf) Letter commenting on that of WG Unruh (APS News 17(6):8), pointing out that the APS, the organization that usually would be defending the rights of physicists, ought to be outspoken in organizing physicists to keep their rights. But in this case, the organization is the very organization that is taking the copyright - even though there is no legal requirement for them to do so. Matarese V. Relationship between quality and editorial leadership of biomedical research journals: a comparative study of Italian and UK journals. PLoS ONE 2008;3(7):e2512. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002512) Several organizations draw up statements guiding the quality of biomedical reporting, but not all journals adhere to these guidelines. Those that follow them demonstrate “editorial leadership” in their author community. In this study, research journals from two European countries were studied and compared to identify a relationship between editorial leadership and journal quality. The data underlying this paper were first presented at the METM07 in Madrid in 2007. Morris S. The tiger in the corner. Learned Publishing 2008;21:163–165. (doi:10.1087/095315108X323901) The continuum from research through discussion and preprints to publication is changing: the informal stages are becoming more important and the final, formal stage is being eroded – and the formal role of the journal may become less important. A few publishers have developed new features and tools to fit into researchers’ new working patterns, but most journals may not have the resources for radical development and experimentation, and they may be held back by the innate conservatism of their organizations. Myers RA. Fair use protects authors’ rights. APS News 2008;17(8):4. (http://tinyurl.com/3uwymd) Letter commenting on that of W G Unruh (APS News 17(6):8, saying that US copyright law explicitly defines the fair use limitations on the exclusive rights conferred by the law. Unruh responds that “fair use” is so limited that it would not cover many things authors might expect to be able to do with their own data – indeed it gives the author no more right than any person off the street to use the work. © Copyright 2009 by European Association of Science Editors Top of Page |
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