Note to Coordinating Editors of all Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs).
Background
On 1 February 2013, open-access options were introduced for the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Authors can choose one of two options for publishing their articles:
- Gold open access: immediate open access upon payment of an article publication charge (APC) fee
- Green open access: publication via the ‘standard’ model, with free access to the full article 12 months after publication
See the Cochrane Library website for more on gold and green open access options.
All Cochrane reviews published in the CDSR are as standard, covered by the Green open access model.
This scheme allows authors, via their Coordinating Editor, to apply for APC fees to be covered by the NIHR, allowing immediate Gold open access, wavering the need for the 12 month embargo before deposit in PubMedCentral (PMC).
Scope of the Scheme
Co-ordinating Editors may nominate:
- review updates; and
- new reviews in progress or ready to commence.
Reviews should be nominated no later than three months prior to peer-review.
Reviews do not need to have been directly funded by an NIHR grant, however must be supported by a UK-based NIHR-funded CRG.
Applications should provide strong justification as to why APC payment and subsequent Gold open access, with creative commons licence (see table 1) would be beneficial to the impact of the review, and therefore the NHS and stakeholders.
Licensing
APC payment for gold open access will require authors to sign a licence for publication form that reflects the open access nature of the article. Authors retain copyright and then grant The Cochrane Collaboration exclusive rights of copyright in and to the article; and choose between selecting a CCBY-NC or CC-BY-NC-ND licence (see Table 1).
Table 1. Description of gold open access licences
|
Type of licence |
Description (Wiley) |
|---|---|
|
CC-BY-NC (Attribution, non-commercial) |
“This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work noncommercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.” |
|
CC-BY-NC-ND (Attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives) |
“This license is the most restrictive of our six main licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially" |
Criteria for Review Nominations
In the ‘scientific/policy justification’ section of the form, in no more than 200 words, describe the potential importance to, and impact of the review within the UK healthcare system, specifically addressing the below points:
- the number of patients affected by the clinical condition and/or intervention reviewed;
- the degree of uncertainty that exists in the absence of an up-to-date open access systematic review,
- the likelihood of a review assisting or changing policy or practice;
- the likely importance and priority that would be given to the review by consumers, such as patients and their carers, and their involvement in the review; and
- any further justification as to why this review would benefit from immediate open access.
Given that UK-based audiences will already have free open access, please justify why payment for Global free access and creative commons licence will be of benefit to UK stakeholders and audiences.
Nominations must be received in electronic form via the email address below using the simple proforma on the website. Proposals that fail to adhere to the proforma or word limit will not be considered.
Selection of reviews and review updates for APC support
The responses to this application for support will be considered by SR Programme Director as and when received, as to appropriateness for APC payment.
Administration
Wherever possible, payments will be made to the host institution of the Co-ordinating Editor or to an institution within the UK.
Enquiries
Any enquiries relating to this scheme should be referred to espinfo@nihr.ac.uk with ‘Cochrane Gold Open Access Scheme’ in the subject/title field.