Thu, 08 Jan 2004 00:00:07 GMT

“Electronic science: a license to print money”. David Mort, Science makes money for Europe's information companies, Research Information, Winter 2003, pp. 13-14. (Not yet online but soon to be here.) A summary of the 2003 profits, margins, acquisitions, and shifts to electronic publication and bundling at the major journal publishers. In the TOC of this issue the editors plug the article with the line, “Electronic science: a license to print money”. Excerpt: “[R]estructuring, cost-cutting programmes, and improved operating efficiencies should boost industry margins compared to last year.” (PS: Despite the rosy forecast, this is pre-Paribas, pre-Citigroup, and pre-Investec. Unlike other recent financial analysts, Mort doesn't even mention open access, let alone try to take its progress into account.) [Open Access News]

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e-science is in europe. it is occuring in a very big way, alot of research dollars are flowing in the sixth framework and it will be interesting to see how it all works out in the end. however, publishing….. still isn't profitable.