'Full and open access' to scientific information: an academic's view

Stimulated by the potential of electronic distribution of information, disc ussions, sometimes rather tense, about the ownership and proprietary rights to scientific publications have generated something of a polarization of t he communities chat have stakes in this issue. There are some 'middle-groun ders', but the intensity of the discourse has made them less visible than t he spokesmen for the extremes. In this forum, eve examine these positions a nd then present a case for a Specific policy, in light of the views of the Parties.