Machine Learning (journal)

Forty Editors Walk Out

In 2001, forty editors and members of the editorial board resigned from Machine Learning. They formed a collective statement supporting the Journal of Machine Learning Research instead. These individuals argued that expensive journals with pay-access archives harmed research progress during the internet era. They believed authors should retain copyright over their own work. Their protest targeted the traditional subscription model where readers paid high prices to access content. The group felt the existing system prevented free distribution of knowledge online. This mass resignation created immediate pressure on the original publisher Kluwer Academic Publishers. The event marked a significant shift in how academic communities viewed ownership of published research.

Kluwer Policy Shifts

Following the mass resignation, Kluwer altered its publishing policy regarding author rights. The publisher allowed writers to self-archive their papers online after peer-review completion. This change permitted researchers to upload final versions of accepted articles to personal websites or institutional repositories. Previously, authors could not legally share their work without permission from the publisher. The new rule applied to all future articles published under the Machine Learning name. It represented a concession to the demands made by the departing editorial board. Libraries continued to subscribe for print and digital access while authors gained more control. The adjustment did not immediately solve all cost issues but opened doors for wider dissemination.

Common questions

When did the journal Machine Learning begin publication?

Machine Learning began publication in 1986 as a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The first issue appeared that year to serve researchers in the field of artificial intelligence and data analysis.

Why did forty editors resign from Machine Learning in 2001?

Forty editors and members of the editorial board resigned from Machine Learning in 2001 because they argued that expensive journals with pay-access archives harmed research progress during the internet era. They believed authors should retain copyright over their own work and protested the traditional subscription model where readers paid high prices to access content.

What policy change did Kluwer Academic Publishers make after the 2001 resignation from Machine Learning?

Kluwer Academic Publishers altered its publishing policy regarding author rights following the mass resignation by allowing writers to self-archive their papers online after peer-review completion. This new rule permitted researchers to upload final versions of accepted articles to personal websites or institutional repositories without legal permission from the publisher.

Which databases index the journal Machine Learning for scholarly searches?

The journal appears in several databases designed for abstracting and indexing scientific literature including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. These systems catalog titles, authors, and keywords to help scholars locate relevant studies within the field of machine learning.

How did the 2001 editorial board resignation influence long-term models of scientific communication?

The 2001 resignation influenced long-term models of scientific communication by demonstrating that communities could organize against restrictive publishing practices effectively. The event inspired similar movements in other fields like physics and biology and led publishers to eventually adopt open access options to remain competitive with free repositories.

Machine Learning (journal).