Embargo (academic publishing)

In academic publishing, an embargo refers to a period during which access to a scholarly work, such as a journal article, book chapter, or dataset, is intentionally restricted after its initial publication or release. This temporary restriction on access is typically imposed by the publisher, institution, or author and is designed to control the dissemination of information for a specific period of time.

Purpose of Embargoes:

Several reasons contribute to the implementation of embargoes:

• Controlling Media Coverage: Embargoes allow journalists and media outlets sufficient time to review and prepare accurate reports on new research findings before the research becomes widely available to the public. This aims to prevent misinterpretations or sensationalized coverage that might arise from immediate public access. A media embargo typically lifts when the publisher allows the content to be disseminated (often aligned with the publication date).
• Protecting Revenue Streams: For publishers, embargoes can protect subscription-based revenue models. By restricting immediate open access, publishers ensure that libraries and individuals who subscribe to their journals or purchase their books maintain a competitive advantage in accessing the latest research.
• Institutional Policies: Institutions may impose embargoes on theses and dissertations deposited in their repositories to allow graduates to publish their work in traditional publishing venues. The embargo provides the author with time to adapt their dissertation into a journal article or book without competition from open access availability of the original work.
• Patent Protection: In fields where research findings have commercial applications, an embargo may be implemented to allow researchers or institutions to pursue patent protection before the information is publicly disclosed. Premature disclosure could jeopardize the patent application process.
• Balancing Open Access Policies: Some institutions or funding agencies require open access publication of research findings. However, they may allow for an embargo period to accommodate the needs of publishers or researchers. This allows for a period of restricted access before the work becomes openly available.

Types of Embargoes:

• Journal Embargo: Restricts access to journal articles behind a paywall for a specified period after publication.
• Thesis/Dissertation Embargo: Delays the open access availability of a thesis or dissertation deposited in an institutional repository.
• Media Embargo: Prevents the dissemination of information to the public or press prior to a specific date and time.
• Data Embargo: Restricts access to research datasets for a set period, often to allow the researchers who collected the data to analyze and publish their findings first.

Duration of Embargoes:

The length of an embargo varies depending on the publisher, institution, or field of study. Journal embargoes can range from a few months to several years. Thesis and dissertation embargoes typically last from six months to two years. Data embargoes can also vary considerably.

Embargoes and Open Access:

Embargoes are often a point of contention in the open access movement. While some view them as a necessary compromise to support traditional publishing models and protect revenue streams, others argue that they hinder the free and immediate dissemination of knowledge. Many open access policies attempt to balance these concerns by allowing for embargo periods before research becomes freely available.

Circumventing Embargoes (Legally):

While directly breaking an embargo is usually a violation of terms and conditions, legal methods for accessing research behind an embargo include:

• Institutional Subscriptions: Accessing the content through a university or library subscription.
• Contacting the Author: Directly contacting the author of the work and requesting a copy.
• Preprint Servers: Checking if the author has deposited a pre-print version of the article on a repository like arXiv or bioRxiv. These are usually pre-peer review versions.