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New Antitrust Lawsuit Exposes How Journal Publishers Are Holding Back Technology and Cybersecurity Breakthroughs
The fight to free critical scientific research from the grip of monopolistic publishing practices, and why it matters for our future
You’ve just uncovered a breakthrough in computer science — something that could reshape the world.
Excited, you rush to submit your findings to an academic journal, eager for peer review and publication. Then, you wait… and wait. And wait some more. Days blur into months, and your manuscript remains stuck in a sluggish review process, locked away from the colleagues who need it and, worse, from the progress that depends on it. Why? Because academic journal publishers are gatekeepers, and they’re not in a hurry.
It’s more than just slow-moving — it’s harmful, especially in fast-evolving fields like computer science and cybersecurity, where innovation doesn’t just save time or money; it protects entire networks, systems, and governments from collapse. Yet, critical research like quantum-resistant encryption or advancements in AI security gets bottlenecked, held hostage by a publishing model designed to benefit the publishers…