SPARC Open Models Glossary by Moriana Garcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue Discussions around Open Models can require some specialized language and a shared understanding of the meaning of those terms when in the context of publishers' business practices. This Glossary provides definitions for some of those terms. Please, let us know your comments on those definitions or add a new box suggesting a new term. For additional terms check SPARC's Glossary at https://sparcopen.org/our-work/negotiation-resources/data-analysis/glossary/. This glossary is distributed under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 license [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/] en-us 2023-02-02 22:29:13 UTC 2025-11-23 03:27:34 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/11581898/bffeb5779a181868e8d6a9ca21bdf0e2/SPARC_icon.jpg Collective action problem morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466833535 Definition: 
Providing public goods—including OA content—confronts the “collective action” or “free-riding” problem. In the context of OA journals, once a journal’s content becomes openly available, it is in the economic self-interest of subscribers to cease paying. Although some sympathetic subscribers might support the open resource initially, over time the inequitable support burden will cause most libraries—even those committed to OA—to withdraw their contributions. Given the risk of substantially reduced revenue, few publishers are able or willing to attempt a conversion to OA under a model that relies primarily on mission-driven altruism.

Source: Raym Crow (2023).]]> 2023-02-02 22:29:13 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466833535 Table of Contents morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466833536
  • Collective action problem
  • Free rider
  • Private or exclusive benefits
  • Donations or voluntary payments
  • Public good
  • Diamond OA
    • ]]>     2023-02-02 22:29:13 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466833536     Public good morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466837732 Definition: 
    In economic terms, open resources (including OA content and open infrastructure) are “public goods;” that is, they are not consumed or reduced by use (they are non-rivalrous) and their use cannot be practically confined to those who pay for them. The non-rivalrous nature of open resources means that they can be used widely, at little or no marginal cost. However, their non-excludability creates challenges in funding their ongoing provision.

    Source: Raym Crow (2023). ]]>     2023-02-02 22:36:18 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466837732     Free rider morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466838472 Definition:
    For Subscribe to Open offers, it is important to differentiate “legitimate” cancellations (driven by significant budget cuts or a change in research/teaching focus) from opportunistic attempts to free-ride by institutions that would otherwise maintain their subscriptions.
    In the context of collection action, a “free rider” is an institution that should contribute to the support of an open resource—because it values and uses the resource and has the ability to pay for it—but does not contribute, leaving it to other institutions to provide it.



    Source: Raym Crow (2023).
    ]]>     2023-02-02 22:37:31 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466838472     Private or exclusive benefits morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466839591 Definition:
    “Private” or “exclusive” benefits are those that are only available to the institutions that support an open resource, as an incentive to provide that support. In the context of open resources, private benefits can include access to gated content, enhanced functionality, governance input, and other incentives.

    Source: Raym Crow (2023).

    ]]>     2023-02-02 22:39:18 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466839591     Donations or voluntary payments morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466840539 Definition:
    A payment made without consideration for private benefit or the local value to the institution making the payment. Most public institutions’ procurement policies forbid donative payments. Subscribe to Open subscription fees are not donations as they pay for guaranteed access to journal content for which open access is contingent on the institution’s payment.

    Source: Raym Crow (2023).]]>     2023-02-02 22:40:52 UTC https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466840539     Diamond OA morianagarcia https://padlet.com/SPARCOPEN/xsrfwmbxx97xxzue/wish/2466842002 Definition:
    “Diamond” OA typically refers to OA journals that do not charge fees to authors or readers. While the term does not denote a specific business model, the vast majority of Diamond OA journals are supported by subsidies and in-kind contributions. Because Subscribe to Open relies on subscribers to support the offers, we do not refer to S2O as Diamond OA.

    Source: Raym Crow (2023).

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