[Wikimedia-l] More opportunities for you to access free research databases!

Todd Allen toddmallen at gmail.com
Sat Aug 11 22:15:14 UTC 2012


On Sat, Aug 11, 2012 at 4:06 PM, David Gerard <dgerard at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 11 August 2012 22:56, Michael Peel <michael.peel at wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> So this is a balancing act - but I'm not currently sure which side outweighs the other, or whether the two sides are currently balancing each other out… What does everyone think? And is there an on-wiki page where we can discuss these offers in general?
>
>
> I think it's good for the encyclopedia content, on balance. I share
> your qualms about encouraging paywalls, but there's nothing to
> generate outrage like going to a scientific paper and seeing it will
> cost you £36.
>
>
> - d.
>
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I think there's that, and I think the fact that these places are
opening up to an open educational project indicates they can read the
writing on the wall. I think they know at some point there will be no
charging $50 per article. They're going to milk it while it lasts, of
course, but I think they know their model is a dying one, and they're
making overtures toward those who can help them move forward.

Regardless, my congratulations and thanks to Ocassi who's capitalized
on this sea change. You've done a significant service to the project.

-- 
Freedom is the right to say that 2+2=4. From this all else follows.



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