this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2025
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I think you're missing the point here. This is about research being locked behind a paywall that causes it to not be used.
Yeah. But that doesn't mean it will never be used. It's normal to want to be paid for the work done but if people want to share they can just share it.
I think it's hard to say when someone will want your information and it might be well after you are dead and able to get anything from it.
There are lots of free recipes I would never use, and there are lots of paid cookbooks that I haven't gotten my hands on yet but might one day because of their knowledge of making a good roux is worth saving (bake it, not in a pot)
Researchers dont get paid. In fact, they usually have to pay to be published on reputable platforms. Those platforms are the ones charging.
As for why they publish there if they never profit, academic success is dependant on publishing ("published or perish"), so academics will pay to advance in their field, potentially getting funding for future studies. (Not from the publisher, obviously; but from grant programmes that only fund you if you have a body of work already.)
This is why if you contact a researcher directly, they'll likely be willing to give you the finished thesis for free.
Generally the difference is a paid service is better and worked on by the author. The work in these thesis 'services' is done by others, the research funded by our tax dollars, and the 'service' doesn't contribute much of anything to be paid beyond server storage.
Think about how many painters, authors, artists, etc. have only received notoriety after their death and absolutely have contributed to culture.
HA, get a load of this, everyone! This person thinks researchers get paid royalties by the publishers!
<the entirety of academia grimly chuckles, a single tear of inner pain welling in each eye>