Australian academics seek to challenge 'web of avarice' in scientific publishing

In the wake of editor-in-chief Stephen Leeder's sacking from the Medical Journal of Australia, academics are challenging the control of a select group of publishing houses over scientific journals

The academic publishing industry is a "gigantic web of avarice and selfishness", an eminent public health professor has said, as Australian academics seek to challenge the domination of a few publishing houses over scientific research.

Emeritus professor Stephen Leeder was sacked by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) in April after challenging a decision to outsource some of the journal's functions to the world's biggest scientific publisher, Elsevier. This month he will address a symposium at the State Library of NSW where academics will discuss how to fight what they describe as the commodification of knowledge.