Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 08:55:01 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun@mssrf.res.in> Recently I received this on the mail: While I don't believe the US government can dictate WHERE something is published, I do believe it has every right and even an obligation (to the public health if nothing else) to dictate the conditions of how the published research that comes out of grants it funds. Specifically, it could require that all of it be made available to the public free, as Medline is now. I believe it is such a big player (the elephant in the living room?) that it could make such a requirement stick. Sure, JAMA can get it "first" (or Nature or Science), but then it also becomes available elsewhere. If publishers don't like it, then so much the better for open access journals. Harvey Brenneise Michigan Public Health Institute hbrenne@mphi.org --- I agree. Results of all publicly funded research - whether funded by US Govt or Pakistani Govt or Cuban Govt - should be made available free. Surely, the governments have a right to pass suitable legislation. Arun