03 Nov 2026
Science Europe publishes its response to the EC's copyright consultation
Science Europe, the organisation representing major public research performing and research funding organisations in Europe, has published a position statement, submitted in response to the European Commission' copyright Consultation. The statement calls for a harmonised EU Secondary Publication Right (SPR) to support Open Science, facilitate cross-border research collaboration, and strengthen the European Research Area (ERA).
In its statement, Science Europe highlights the challenges created by fragmented national copyright frameworks and calls for greater legal clarity and consistency across EU Member States. It also emphasises the importance of effective copyright exceptions for text and data mining, including for AI-enabled research, and clearer rules governing the use of copyright-protected material in research.
A harmonised EU Secondary Publication Right, which Science Europe wants to see included in the forthcoming European Research Area Act, would enable researchers to make their scholarly outputs openly available immediately, without embargo periods, and provide greater legal certainty when sharing research across borders, the association states. Science Europe calls for a mandatory, cross-border and non-waivable right covering all scholarly outputs, allowing researchers to share the final published version of their work and make it available under open licences of their choice. By removing legal barriers to accessing and sharing scientific knowledge, these measures would advance Open Science, strengthen the European Research Area, and support the free movement of knowledge, research, and innovation.
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