> Why are you under the impression scholars write the papers for free? That is what researchers are employed at universities to do ...
Researchers are employed to drumroll please research. (inc. teach, and mentor, and advise, and admin, etc.)
Disseminating your research, that requires writing it up, yes. So, no, they don't technically write up the research for free, but those who benefit (the publishers) are not the same entities who pay the researchers salaries so it's as if they are getting something for practically nothing, i.e. "free".
> Yes, it is not like publishing a book but these papers are not really like books anyway.
Nobody is making that comparison.
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It's very simple, the internet has shone a strong light on a very profitable business model and people don't like what they see.
Researchers are employed to drumroll please research. (inc. teach, and mentor, and advise, and admin, etc.)
Disseminating your research, that requires writing it up, yes. So, no, they don't technically write up the research for free, but those who benefit (the publishers) are not the same entities who pay the researchers salaries so it's as if they are getting something for practically nothing, i.e. "free".
> Yes, it is not like publishing a book but these papers are not really like books anyway.
Nobody is making that comparison.
---
It's very simple, the internet has shone a strong light on a very profitable business model and people don't like what they see.