Diamond Open Access

Free to publish. Free to read. Since 2002.

Journal	APC
Nature Communications	~€5,380
MDPI journals (avg)	~€1,800
SoSyM (Springer)	~€2,790
JSS (Elsevier)	~€2,650
JOT	Free of charge

No Article Processing Charges. Ever.

Why This Matters →

Why Diamond Open Access Matters

Research financially supported by public programs and agencies must be openly accessible. Open access enhances dissemination on a global scale, makes research accessible to those without access to paywall-based systems, reduces duplication, supports interdisciplinary knowledge transfer, and makes the research process more transparent.

However, not all open access models are created equal. How a journal funds itself has profound consequences for authors, reviewers, and the scientific community.

The Problem with Article Processing Charges

The dominant "Gold" open access model shifts costs from readers to authors through Article Processing Charges (APCs). While this removes the paywall, it introduces new problems:

Financial bias. APCs can top several thousands of euros depending on the discipline. This creates barriers for researchers from less wealthy institutions, countries, or communities, undermining the very equity that open access was meant to promote.
Perverse incentives for publishers. When each accepted paper generates revenue, publishers may be tempted to increase acceptance rates rather than maintain rigorous quality standards.
Authorship distortion. Researchers may be invited onto a paper not for their intellectual contribution, but because their institution can cover the APC through a transformative agreement.
Double dipping. Institutional budgets must often fund APCs while retaining existing subscription costs, stretching limited library budgets further.

For context, in 2012 and 2013 Elsevier posted profit margins of more than 40%—margins largely sustained by volunteer labour from the same academic community that pays APCs.

Open Access Models Compared

Model	Reader access	Author cost	Key concern
Hybrid	Selected articles free	APC per article	Double dipping on subscriptions
Green	Free (after embargo)	None	6–12 month delays, limited versions
Gold	All articles free	APC per article	Financial barriers for authors
Diamond / Platinum	All articles free	None	Requires community commitment

Diamond Open Access: A Community-Driven Alternative

Diamond (also called Platinum) open access provides permanent and free access for readers with no publication fees for authors—100% free. All articles are published under the most flexible reuse standard, the CC BY license. Publication costs are sustained by non-profit associations, academic institutions, and—above all—the voluntary contribution of the scientific community.

This model levels the playing field, giving everyone an equal chance to publish and read high-quality scientific publications regardless of financial means.

How JOT Makes It Work

JOT has operated as a diamond open access journal since its founding in 2002—long before open access became a mainstream policy concern. No APCs, no subscription fees, no embargo periods. Authors retain copyright. Every article is published under a Creative Commons license.

This is made possible through the dedicated voluntary work of the editorial board, reviewers, and editors, who contribute their time to:

Managing the submission and review workflow
Maintaining the journal website and submission system (based on the open-source Open Journal Systems platform)
Handling production, DOI registration, and metadata (Crossref)
Promoting published work through social media and video presentations

All of these activities require dedication, are time-consuming, and are made possible only through firm and steady support of the community.

Why This Should Concern Every Researcher

A 2018 survey by the European University Association found a significant lack of awareness about open access policies among researchers at every career stage. Librarians and institutional leaders are far better informed. This means researchers risk being unable to influence decisions that will fundamentally change their professional lives.

The shift to open access is an epochal change—comparable to the introduction of movable type printing. If the research community does not engage, publishers will drive this transition with researchers having little or no control over the outcome.

Diamond open access journals like JOT demonstrate that rigorous, high-quality peer review and global dissemination can coexist with zero financial barriers for both authors and readers. The model works—but it depends on community engagement.