Hi,

What are the reasons given for blocking these journals ? The issue could be clearer if the reasons for this move are mentioned.

i dont think they are satisfied with the amount of money earned from the companies, sadly the publishers will continue to treat the articles as marchandise, to earn more and more

Elsevier is making a kind of a strike, see their declaration.

https://www.elsevier.com/promo/sciencedirect/germany?dgcid=usabilla-germany-cohort2-desk

My opinion is the following: Elsevier is a very expensive publisher. The money they earn comes partially from the authors, who get nothing for their writings. Also, the reviewers get nothing. The authors are usually scientists who need to publish because it belongs to the research they are doing.

The result of electronic publishing is that everybody has (or had) direct access to the articles, the university libraries pay for this service. By blocking this access for the latest publication, Elsevier makes pressure to get more money. But: they are already very expensive. And: why not continue based on the previous agreements?

The Elsevier strike is very unfair. Publications are made that others read them.

Here is a list of the most expensive journals

(a KIT library list, cited in the German "Laborjournal" 2012 https://www.laborjournal.de/blog/?p=4589#more-4589)

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta (BBA): Abopreis: 20019,70 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

2. Chemical physics letters: Abopreis: 16507,96 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

3. Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry (Elektronische Ausgabe): Abopreis: 14116,85 Euro (Verlag: Springer)

4. Journal of organometallic chemistry: Abopreis: 13966,71 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

5. Journal of mathematical analysis and applications: Abopreis: 11321,48 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

6. Inorganica chimica acta: Abopreis: 11067,01 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

7. Biochemical and biophysical research communications (BBRC): Abopreis: 10695,72 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

8. Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials (MMM): Abopreis: 10599,42 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

9. Journal of coordination chemistry (Elektronische Ausgabe): Abopreis: 10314,92 Euro (Verlag: Taylor & Francis)

10. Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering: Abopreis: 10170,35 Euro (Verlag: Elsevier)

Hello,

did anybody consider the enormous quality issues that emerge due to this behaviour of Elsevier? Maybe its a bit naive, but competing groups may publish intentionally in Elsevier journals so that none of them may see each others research without paying ... even from a capitalistic viewpoint, this is pretty much disturbing in my opinion and maybe goes one step beyond what Mr Lamparter pointed out. Indirectly, they provide a playground that enhances obscuring research output.

Are there any other problems you can imagine that are raised from this journal blocking thing? It seems to be exclusively for german research institutions and it is claimed to be a access-delay due to the transition progress towards open access. As far as I know, this access restriction is maintained for at least half a year by now, which is clearly way too long.

kindly,

Joerg