Note: PLOS issued the following press release on May 1, 2023. SAN FRANCISCO —The Public Library of Science (PLOS) is pleased to…
New APC-free Open Access agreements test alternative funding models
The following press release was issued on Wednesday, October 14th at 12:01 Pacific.
SAN FRANCISCO — Jisc, the digital solutions provider for education and research in the UK, and the Public Library of Science (PLOS) today announced two 3-year Open Access (OA) agreements that allow researchers to publish in PLOS journals without incurring article processing charges (APC). This is the first time that a large university consortium has provided collective agreements as an alternative to APCs at this scale. Jisc and PLOS will also collaborate on future data, metrics, and tools for institutions to evaluate OA publishing agreements.
“Jisc has always been a priority partner, given its high profile, its large existing institutional account base with PLOS, and leadership role in the library community,” said Sara Rouhi, director of strategic partnerships for PLOS. “It’s always exciting to partner with a forward-leaning organization whose values and priorities around Open Access and Open Science align with our own. We also look forward to sharing the fruits of this partnership with the broader community.”

Caren Milloy, Jisc’s director of licensing, adds: “We are pleased to have reached these pioneering agreements with PLOS, which will make it easier for researchers to publish OA and offer affordability and sustainability to institutions. These collective action agreements have the potential to help shape the future of OA funding.”
Under the flat fee agreement, which begins on January 1, 2021, annual fixed prices will cover uncapped publishing in five PLOS journals[1] for corresponding authors affiliated with participating Jisc institutions as well as custom reporting and collaboration on future reporting standards initiatives. The PLOS Community Action Publishing agreement, facilitates uncapped publishing in PLOS’ two highly selective journals[2] through a collective action model. Both corresponding and contributing authors affiliated with participating Jisc institutions are eligible. The model itself is predicated on cost recovery, capped margins, and redistributing revenues above target back to community members.
These agreements empower authors who want to participate in Open Access publishing, and support a diverse scholarly communication ecosystem for researchers and readers.
[1] PLOS journals include PLOS Genetics, PLOS Computational Biology, PLOS Pathogens, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases and PLOS ONE
[2] PLOS Medicine and PLOS Biology
Thank you for this good news about this agreement. Does this cover articles submitted after 1st January 2021 or articles accepted after 1st January 2021? Best wishes.
The agreement covers all articles that are accepted after January 1st. Thanks for reaching out.
Do please consider 3rd world countries differently. We can not afford page charges.
Prof. Cristina Gobello, MV, DVM, DECAR
Director Center of Reproductive Physiology
Faculty of Veterinary Sciences,
National University of La Plata & National Research Council
60 y 118. La Plata CC 296 (B 1900 AVW), Argentina
cgobello@fcv.unlp.edu.ar
Tel: 54-221-155239561 – 54-221-4825372
Fax: 54-221-425-7980 (Attn Dr Gobello)
how can I participate? I am from Brazil.