Open but Not Free — Publishing in the 21st Century

Abstract

Since the founding of Philosophical Transactions in 1665, journals have been the vehicle of choice for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Over the years, the number of active, peer-reviewed learned journals has expanded to approximately 28,000, collectively publishing more than 1.8 million articles per year. Most of these journals are accessible by subscription, and before the mid-1990s, they were available only on paper. By the end of the 20th century, most journals had moved their content to online platforms, greatly increasing the accessibility of scientific information.