While Open Access (OA) publishing increases the visibility and accessibility of research, it also comes with some challenges. Authors may encounter article processing charges (APCs), concerns about journal quality or predatory publishers, and confusion around copyright and licensing terms. It's important to carefully evaluate OA journals and understand your rights as an author before submitting.
Challenges:
Cost: APCs for some OA journals can be high - often hundred or thousands of dollars, which can be a significant barrier for research without institutional or grant support
Misconceptions of Quality: Some equate OA with lower standards or “pay to Publish” models, however OA journals follow the same standard of the peer review processes.
Licensing and Copyright: Authors most be familiar with copyright standards and creative commons licenses especially with regards to reuse and attribution of their work.
Journal Selection Confusion: Identifying where to publish in OA journals/repositories can be confusing to authors. Tools like DOAJ and Sherpa Romeo can help but general education is needed from colleagues or librarians.
