[Purpose/Significance] Conducting thorough research on transformation agreements enables subscription institutions to better understand and leverage these agreements to reduce risks, safeguard rights, and improve resource utilization. Additionally, it helps in gathering data and experiences that can provide a more scientific foundation for future negotiations, contract signings, and the enhancement of open access policies. [Method/Process] This paper analyzed a total of sixty-one transformation agreements from eight prominent foreign academic journal publishers and nineteen academic library consortia across twelve countries, as listed on the ESAC platform. It employed text analysis tools to perform a comparative study on the key terms within these agreements, highlighting their structural and content characteristics. Insights were drawn to assist Chinese subscription institutions in negotiations and contract signings. [Result/Conclusion] The structure of each publisher’s transformation agreements is quite similar, with differences mainly focused on the specific provisions related to open access. The subscription institutions in China can make claims to publishers in controlling reasonable limits on publication volume, efficient information sharing systems, flexible author authentication processes, copyright retention for authors, transparent fee structures, and streamline workflows. These strategies can enhance the terms of agreements and protect the rights of both institutions and authors.
Qiu Shicen
,
Xiang Jiali
. A Comparative Study on the Key Terms of Open Access Transformation Agreements from Foreign Major Academic Journal Publishers[J]. Library and Information Service, 2025
, 69(7)
: 126
-136
.
DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.07.011
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