Beyond APC: on the need for diamond open access publication platforms

This memorandum demonstrates the need for Diamond Open Access Publication Platforms. On these platforms we should not only publish peer reviewed articles but also provide general Open Access to other forms of research output, such as monographs, reports, research protocols, intervention protocols, tests and questionnaires, software, data, and metadata. Innovative publication platforms could present promising opportunities, as they are not bound by the traditional format of the academic journal and the possibilities are literally endless for facilitating the publication, dissemination and preservation of scientific output. Digital Open Access publication platforms can also promote Open Education, by also publishing teaching materials. If publications of the various products of research are indexed in the same way as scientific articles, then publications and citations of these other products of research can also be counted in the same way, and thus be recognized and awarded in the evaluation of research and researchers. A full list of eleven desirable principles and requirements of Diamond Open Access publication platforms is presented.