Re: Future of the "subscription model?"

[Sandy Thatcher <sandy.thatcher@alumni.princeton.edu>]

To what Rick says (with which I largely agree) I would add that 
the distribution of single articles in a non-systematic way could 
be justified as "fair use" or under the provisions of Sec. 
108--which means that the publisher would receive no income at 
all!  So, if a sociologist, say, wanted only an occasional 
article from the American Journal of Sociology, he or she could 
obtain if via interlibrary "loan" or from a colleague who has a 
subscription.  This kind of patron-driven access model would 
leave the publisher with a significantly reduced income stream to 
support publication of the journal.  That is another reason that 
should motivate publishers to move in the direction of Gold OA.

Sandy Thatcher