Open access publishing is becoming increasingly common. Open access is receiving full attention from the Dutch government. Their goal is to have all Dutch academic publications freely available in 2024.

Open access (OA) provides free, digital access to the results of research (including academic research) to users and readers. This means that OA publications are not subject to the copyright restrictions that many publishers retain.

By making scientific publications freely accessible and reusable, we allow more people to become aware of the results of scientific/academic research; including those who cannot afford paid access to this information. New ideas are spread faster and wider which in turn leads to new research: a boost to science. Lecturers also benefit from Open Access by using this knowledge directly in their courses. Companies gain access to the latest scientific ideas and can build on these. And Open Access publishing and Open Science boost the knowledge-based economy and innovation. More about deals with publishers in The Netherlands (in Dutch).

BUas Library has added several open access databases and publications to  the library collection, like for instance:

• DOAJ, Directory of OpenAccess Journals
• Ingenta Open, open access journals
• OpenDoar, open access journals
• SCIRP, open access journals

The library also advises researchers on various subjects within open access publishing (e.g. negotiations with publishers, open access criteria, open access journals). For questions please contact the CIP via [email protected].

The Copyright Information Point, on behalf of the library, willingly advises researchers on various subjects within open access publishing (e.g. negotiations with publishers, open access criteria, and open access journals).

Open Access publishing can be done in several ways:

• The ‘green route’ for example via the Pure Repository
• Or via the ‘gold route’ in an open access journals of publishers (Springer or Elsevier, for example)

If you want to publish an article in an open access journal, this will often involve costs, which are referred to as ‘article processing charges’ (apc).

There are various ways to cover the costs: 

1. By including an item for publication costs in your project budget, especially if this is required by the terms of your financer. If needed the Copyright Information Point ([email protected]) can give advice on the amount that should be reserved.
2. You can appeal to the open access fund of Breda University of Applied Sciences, see the qualifying conditions and procedure below:

Conditions to qualify for the open access fund:

1. Your article will be published in a peer reviewed journal which is either entirely open access or hybrid (offers the opportunity to publish only your article in Open Access). Peer reviewed open access journals are included in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
2. The corresponding author is employed at Breda University of Applied Sciences.
3. You do not receive any (publication) subsidy from NWO or other (public) funding bodies.
4. You will be required to deposit the full text of your publication in the Pure repository as soon as possible after publication (how you can do so, is explained on the website of the library:  https://www.buas.nl/library/library-pure)
5. Publication of dissertations and books will not be subsidized.

Procedure of the open access fund

1. Applications are handled on a first-come-first-served basis.
2. Applications will be judged based upon the conditions mentioned on this webpage
3. After permission has been granted (based upon the conditions above) you will receive information on how payment will proceed.

Please note submitting an invoice without asking permission first is not an option

For more information on this procedure or to appeal for use of the open access fund, please contact the BUas Copyright Information Point: [email protected]

A re-use licence specifies which uses of the material are allowed by the copyright holder concerned (for example posting the material on other websites, provided that the source is acknowledged) and which uses require permission.

Creative Commons licenses 
One of the most well-known types of re-use licenses are Creative Commons (CC) licenses, these are free and internationally accepted. Creative Commons allows creators to add a license to their work so they can protect their work from misuse.

And so they can share their work, without people having to ask for permission for the use of the work. 
Creative Commons have created 6 licenses that can be added to a work. Please view this webpage for more information on the different kind of CC licenses that are available.

Using works with a creative commons licenses 
The website of Creative Commons organisation also offers you the chance to find the works that have a Creative Commons license.

Via this link, you can for instance search in Google Images, Flickr and YouTube on materials that have a creative commons re-use license.

By using a source with a re-license you will reduce your chances of violating copyright.
Why? Because you will using a source of which the copyright owner has already given permission for re-use.