Open Access

Open access (OA) refers to the availability of digital content, which includes not just text but also data, software, audio, video, and multimedia, that can be accessed by anyone free of charge and with no restrictions. As OA continues to expand, more types of content are being integrated, such as text with images, data, and executable code. It's worth noting that OA isn't exclusive to scholarly content but can also apply to non-scholarly content like music, movies, and novels.

To be considered OA, a publication must meet the following criteria: the content should be accessible to anyone without any fees or restrictions, and this accessibility should be via the internet or other means. The author or copyright owner should grant users the right to use, copy, or distribute the article for an unlimited period, provided proper attribution is given. Additionally, the publication should be deposited immediately in a suitable electronic form, in at least one widely recognized open-access repository that is committed to open access.

Open-access publications are freely and permanently available online to anyone with an internet connection. Unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium is permitted, provided the author/editor is properly attributed.

Open access has gained tremendous support from both authors, who appreciate the increased visibility of their work, as well as science institutions and funders, who value the societal impact of freely available research results.

Open-access publications are made freely available online, ensuring that anyone can access them. This helps to maximize the visibility, uptake, and use of the work published. An additional benefit of open access is that authors can retain copyright, thanks to the use of a Creative Commons License. This allows publications to be reused and redistributed as long as the original author is correctly attributed.

Open-access publications are subject to high-quality and rigorous peer review, and they undergo the same production and publishing processes as journals and books published under traditional subscription-based models. Additionally, streamlined and easy-to-use online submission and production processes enable quick review, approval, and publication.

Unlike traditional print publications, open-access publications have no space constraints. This allows for the inclusion of supplementary material, including figures, extensive data, and video footage. Open-access publications can comply with open-access mandates from funding sources or academic institutions quickly and easily. Final articles can be deposited into bibliographic databases and institutional repositories without any embargo periods.

Open-access publications are tracked for impact factors, and they are deposited into bibliographic databases and institutional repositories without any embargo period, just like traditional journals. This ensures that they are included in citation tracking and bibliographic databases.