Free‐to‐publish, free‐to‐read, or both? Cost, equality of access, and integrity in science publishing

The Internet has triggered transformational change in the dissemination of science in the form of a global transition to open access (OA) publishing. Heavy investment favoring Gold over Green OA has been associated with increased total publication costs, inequality of opportunity to publish, and concerns about integrity in science reporting. Notwithstanding current fluidity because of ongoing competition for market share between supporters of the major alternative publishing strategies, emerging trends indicate the need for material and human resources to be redirected away from Gold and toward Green OA. Doing so will reduce total publication costs, increase equality of access for authors and readers, and remove the financial incentives that have encouraged poor and corrupt publishing practices.