Global Open Science Act for Equitable Knowledge Access

Legislative Proposal: Global Open Science Act for Equitable Knowledge Access

Sponsor: Elena Varga, Social Democratic Policy Advisor to the World Parliament

Date: October 26, 2023

Preamble

Recognizing that scientific knowledge is a fundamental driver of human progress, innovation, and well-being, and that its equitable access is a cornerstone of a just and prosperous global society;

Acknowledging that current models of scientific publishing and knowledge dissemination often create significant barriers, particularly for researchers and institutions in the Global South, thereby exacerbating inequalities, hindering global problem-solving, and impeding the full realization of human potential;

Affirming that publicly funded research, generated through the collective investment of global citizens, constitutes a global public good and should be openly accessible to all, fostering transparency, collaboration, and democratic participation in scientific advancement;

Inspired by the principles of social democracy, which champion universal access to essential services, robust social safety nets, and the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities;

This legislative proposal, the Global Open Science Act for Equitable Knowledge Access, seeks to establish a framework for open science that dismantles barriers, promotes inclusivity, and ensures that the benefits of scientific discovery are shared globally and equitably.

Article 1: Mandate for Immediate Open Access to Publicly Funded Research Outputs

1. Principle: All scholarly publications and research outputs resulting from research wholly or partially funded by public entities, national governments, or intergovernmental organizations shall be made immediately and freely accessible to the public upon publication.
2. Implementation:
* Researchers shall deposit a machine-readable copy of their peer-reviewed manuscript (version of record or accepted manuscript) into an approved open access repository (institutional, disciplinary, or global) concurrently with its publication in a journal.
* Such publications shall be licensed under an open license, preferably Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY), allowing for immediate reuse, redistribution, and adaptation, provided the original source and author are credited.
* Embargo periods for publicly funded research publications are hereby prohibited.
3. Compliance: Funding agencies shall integrate open access compliance into their grant agreements and reporting requirements, ensuring that compliance is a precondition for continued funding.

Article 2: Open Research Data and FAIR Principles

1. Principle: Research data, code, and other digital research objects supporting publicly funded publications shall be made as open as possible, as closed as necessary, adhering to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
2. Implementation:
* Researchers shall develop and publish Data Management Plans (DMPs) outlining how data will be managed, preserved, and shared.
* Data shall be deposited in trusted, certified open repositories with persistent identifiers, whenever ethically and legally permissible.
* Exceptions to open data sharing may be granted for legitimate reasons, including but not limited to, protection of human privacy, national security, commercial sensitivity, or the preservation of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage, subject to transparent justification and review.

Article 3: Investment in Open Science Infrastructure and Capacity Building

1. Global Fund for Open Science Infrastructure: The World Parliament shall establish a dedicated Global Fund to support the development and maintenance of non-profit, community-governed open science infrastructure, including repositories, open publishing platforms, data archives, and interoperable tools.
2. Capacity Building Programs: Member states and intergovernmental organizations shall invest in comprehensive training and education programs on open science practices for researchers, librarians, and research administrators, with a particular focus on empowering institutions and individuals in low- and middle-income countries.
3. Equitable Participation: Initiatives shall be developed to ensure the active participation and leadership of researchers from underrepresented regions and communities in the design and governance of global open science infrastructure.

Article 4: Reforming Research Assessment and Incentives

1. Principle: Research assessment and career progression shall be reformed to recognize and reward open science practices, including but not limited to, sharing of data, code, preprints, public engagement, and contributions to open infrastructure.
2. Implementation:
* Funding bodies, universities, and research institutions shall adopt the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and the Leiden Manifesto for Research Metrics, moving beyond journal impact factors as primary indicators of research quality.
* New metrics and qualitative assessments shall be developed to evaluate the societal impact, transparency, and reusability of research outputs.

Article 5: Addressing Predatory Practices and Ensuring Ethical Publishing

1. Oversight and Regulation: The World Parliament, in collaboration with national regulatory bodies, shall establish mechanisms to monitor and address predatory publishing practices and unethical journal operations that exploit researchers and undermine the integrity of science.
2. Support for Non-Profit Models: Financial incentives and policy support shall prioritize non-profit and diamond open access publishing models that do not levy Article Processing Charges (APCs) on authors, thereby ensuring equitable access for researchers regardless of their institutional or national financial capacity.
3. Transparency in Costs: Publishers shall be required to disclose all costs associated with their services and business models, promoting transparency and accountability in the scholarly communication ecosystem.

Article 6: Global Open Science Council

1. Establishment: A Global Open Science Council shall be established under the auspices of the World Parliament, composed of diverse stakeholders including researchers from various disciplines and regions, librarians, policymakers, civil society representatives, and experts in intellectual property law.
2. Mandate: The Council shall be responsible for:
* Monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of this Act.
* Developing best practices and guidelines for open science.
* Facilitating international collaboration and harmonization of open science policies.
* Providing recommendations to the World Parliament on emerging issues related to open science, intellectual property, and equitable knowledge access.

Article 7: Intellectual Property Rights and Open Science

1. Harmonization: This Act shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner consistent with existing international intellectual property treaties, while actively seeking to harmonize these frameworks with the imperative for open access to publicly funded research for the global public good.
2. Public Interest Licensing: Public funding agreements shall stipulate that licenses for research outputs prioritize public access and reuse, ensuring that intellectual property rights do not unduly restrict the dissemination and application of publicly funded knowledge.

Conclusion

This Global Open Science Act represents a pivotal step towards democratizing knowledge, accelerating innovation, and fostering a truly inclusive global scientific community. By ensuring that the fruits of publicly funded research are accessible to all, we empower citizens, policymakers, and researchers worldwide to collectively address humanity's most pressing challenges, from climate change and pandemics to poverty and inequality. This is not merely an academic endeavor; it is a fundamental commitment to social justice, sustainable development, and the collective well-being of all working people and communities across our planet. The World Parliament must act decisively to secure our shared intellectual future.