On HN, Fermigier mentioned that 18 months ago, Genevieve Fioraso, French Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research said : “Given the high stakes – scientific, economic and societal – the French government reaffirms its support for the principle of open access to scientific information“. Nice – our government seems to get it.

Today, France signs a five-year national deal with Elsevier. How much more hypocritical can politics get ?

It is especially sad as the Dutch are meanwhile taking a stand by embracing open access.