From: K. Satyanarayana The issue of providing free global access to new information generated with or without Govt support through the learned journals has been the tradition of scientists for over three centuries. The new twist to this barrier-free access to information, especially generated with federal support, is due the fear and anxiety that it might be used by 'rogue' state or groups for carrying out activities detrimental to human health (say, manufacture of chemical or biological weapons). The 'designing' of a new virus in the laboratory is but one such frightining example. If the new data are likely to be of such nature, I see no reasons why such attemtps be made to prevent free flow of such information. After all, even now much of the data in the sensitive and strategic sectors of defense, space and atomic energy continue to be in the restrictive category. I think every sovereign democratic country has the right to restrict access to a 'reasonable extent' such data/information. In fact, many journals in the areas of microbiology, virology have voluntary initiated steps to prevent such data from being made public, through pre-publication scrutiny, irrespective of the source of funding. What is 'reasonable restriction' should, of course, by debated by the scholarly community instead of leaving to the policy makers. K. Satyanarayana Indian Council of Medical Research Ansari Nagar New Delhi India 110029 P.S: These are my own views and not necessaily of the organisation I work with.

Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 08:55:01 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam

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

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