Online databases and platforms for scholarly journals grew rapidly in the 1970s, and corporate database vendors and publishers came to aid organization, preservation and distribution. With the explosion of materials online, the control of access over ownership became the new focal point. The gap between goals of the corporate world and those of scholarship is becoming more apparent and controversial due to financial complexities; online publishing is intended to accelerate academic advancement, yet corporate business models are hindering the proliferation of scholarship. This talk will explore some of the conflicts and events that ensued recently, with attention to actions and positions taken by the academic community. Additionally, open access is a compelling potential solution for the continuation of the long-standing tradition and core values of scholarly communication and online platforms being a medium instead of an obstacle.
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