The information industry: quo vadis

Abstract

For more than a decade libraries and scientists have been complaining about the ever-spiraling cost of scientific information. Because of the decreasing number of commercial publishers, more and more are being bought by only a handful, we are well on our way to a monopoly situation. Fortunately now the world is reacting and reacting forcefully so it may well be that the present model of the dissemination of scientific information is about to collapse. This paper gives you an overview of the most recent developments but warns at the same time to be careful. We cannot break down the old system before we have something new in place that works.