Blockchain and scholarly publishing could be best friends

Abstract

All the power on the Internet belongs to companies such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon - largely because they control content discovery. Users return to them time and time again instead of browsing around the web like originally intended because the access mode is direct and trusted. Also, these developers have built clever technology and algorithms that keep users hooked - all while using what remains siloed information and data that is essentially provided by publishers who themselves have built websites, platforms, and apps with walls around users. This paper attempts to demonstrate how Blockchain technology provides an opportunity to take back this power by decentralizing the Internet once again. It also offers the possibility to open up horizontal discovery on the web between publishers providing optimal discovery, while at the same time creating trust and transparency between publishers.