by Matt Lee
Quick Summary
When Elsevier was recently awarded a patent for an “online peer-review system and method,” scholars from across the internet were quick to voice their concern. The patent itself is for an online system the company uses to manage article submissions.
When Elsevier was recently awarded a patent for an “online peer-review system and method,” scholars from across the internet were quick to voice their concern. The patent itself is for an online system the company uses to manage article submissions. If an article is rejected by one Elsevier journal, the system routes it to another relevant journal for review there, with the author’s permission.
While Elsevier’s patent covers the details of its proprietary system, that general function (of shepherding submissions between journals) has been in use across the scholarly publishing world for years. The question many have voiced is whether Elsevier will attempt to protect their patent by claiming to own the much broader process. Elsevier claims that there “is no need for concern regarding the patent,” but many librarians, publishers, researchers, and open-source advocates have expressed skepticism.
Elsevier’s new patent for online peer review throws a scare into open-source advocates – Chronicle of Higher Education
Stupid patent of the month: Elsevier patents online peer review – Electronic Frontier Foundation
