Action

Watch for opportunities or recent progress involving:

• NIH Public Access Policy
• Federal Research Public Access Act
• International Public Access Policies

• Students

Background

Mandatory public access to federally funded research does not violate copyright obligations (PDF)

Enhanced Access to the Published Results of NIH Research Will Benefit Science, the Economy and Human Health (PDF)

More resources...

 

 

What is “Taxpayer Access”?

Access to scientific and medical publications has lagged behind the wide reach of the Internet into U.S. homes and institutions. Subscription barriers limit U.S. taxpayer access to research that has been paid for with public funds. Taxpayer access removes these barriers by making the peer-reviewed results of taxpayer-funded research available online, and for no extra charge to the American public. To achieve this, the ATA supports applying the developing practices of Open Access as defined by the Budapest Open Access Initiative in February 2002.

A diverse and growing alliance of organizations representing taxpayers, patients, physicians, researchers, and institutions that support open public access to taxpayer-funded research.

Statement of Principles:

1. American taxpayers are entitled to open access on the Internet to the peer-reviewed scientific articles on research funded by the U.S. Government.
2. Widespread access to the information contained in these articles is an essential, inseparable component of our nation's investment in science.
3. This and other scientific information should be shared in cost-effective ways that take advantage of the Internet, stimulate further discovery and innovation, and advance the translation of this knowledge into public benefits.
4. Enhanced access to and expanded sharing of information will lead to usage by millions of scientists, professionals, and individuals, and will deliver an accelerated return on the taxpayers' investment.

	Add this button to your Web site and show your support for taxpayer access to federally funded research.

Recent News:

(May 7, 2008) NIH Updates its Public Access Policy FAQ

(April 15, 2008) Harold Varmus talks about the NIH policy on NPR's Science Friday
The Nobel Prize winner discusses the new NIH Public Access Policy with host Ira Flatow.

(April 7, 2008) Public access begins

(April 7, 2008) Health Institute Begins Open-Access Grant Policy

(March 31, 2008) ATA welcomes new members - Committee for Economic Development and the Association of Cancer Online Resources

(March 28, 2008) NIH Director Zerhouni welcomes comments on public access policy implementation
..."We believe that public access after a reasonable embargo period of up to a year to research funded by NIH will help advance science and improve human health while preserving peer review and the value of scientific publishing," ...

(March 24, 2008) Update on NIH public meeting

(February 21, 2008) Celebrations and Tough Questions Follow Harvard's Move to Open Access

(January 11, 2008) NIH Releases Revised Public Access Policy

(December 31, 2007) New law broadens access to research on health

(December 26, 2007) Public Access Mandate Made Law

Be sure to check our Media page for news on the latest developments in public access.

Join the Alliance now.