The implications of the new Science Law on the dissemination of the results of scientific projects in Spain: OPIS and Open Access Day

Abstract

The new Law on Science, Technology and Innovation came into force on December 3. Among the novelties of the Law, it is worth mentioning Article 37, which provides for the dissemination through repositories of publications resulting from research projects financed by the General State Budget. Literally, "research personnel whose research activity is mainly financed with funds from the General State Budget will make public a digital version of the final version of the contents that have been accepted for publication in serial or periodical research publications, as soon as possible, but no later than twelve months after the official date of publication". In other words, the Law requires the deposit of the author's revised drafts (what in the terminology of the open access movement is called post-prints) of their articles financed by the General State Budget. This article is framed within the rights and duties of the researcher.