1. Key Policy Questions and related issues:
How to ensure an open and affordable use of academic databases for scientific innovation without infringing monopolistic individual and corporate copyright?
To what extent do the interests of the young researchers influence the policy-making process on open access to academic databases?
In the light of the lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic, can the cases of global emergency be a ground for opening databases?
2. Summary of Issues Discussed:
Mr Thierry talked about how the private sector also promotes open access policies, complementing the social purpose of the companies with its aim. The sharing of data between the public and private sectors has always been done, approaching some government initiatives that facilitate this sharing. In pandemic times, while it’s possible to go after more profits, it seems wiser to private sectors agents to try to be more flexible to make it easier to fight pandemic-related issues.
Ms Mariana Valente talked about the importance of opening academic databases to civil society. She talked about how digital technologies created the possibility of sharing knowledge and works, but this didn’t come with the legal possibility of sharing, because copyright law posed some barriers. She mentioned that open licenses are not enough, and the academic ecosystem needs to have an active role to stimulate open access, recognizing and promoting these type of initiatives.
Mr Elnur pointed out how the theme of the session is especially relevant to the youth. He remembered how youth starting to research have great barriers in getting access to protected academic texts, mostly because they do not have the same level of access or the same financial resources as older researchers have.
Ms Vivian Moya presented how the government can help to develop access and mediating the involved interests. She started with a brief introduction about how copyright works (and what are its aims) around the world, with higher or lower levels of copyright protection depending on national legislation.
7. Reflection to Gender Issues:
The session did not focus on the gender aspects of access to academic databases specifically. However, the session addressed the difficulties of different marginalized communities' access to academic databases, especially during the pandemic. Only one example of these communities under the umbrella of the youth has been thoroughly discussed as youth is the most active users and beneficiaries of databases.
10. Voluntary Commitment: