Open science for private interests? How the logic of open science contributes to the commercialization of research

Abstract

Conflicts of interest, cases of scientific fraud, and limitations on research by intellectual property laws have led to questions about the epistemic and social justice adequacy of industry-funded research. The Open Science ideal which promotes transparency, collaboration, and accountability-seems to address the limitations of commercially driven research. However, the Open Science movement focuses on publicly funded research, encourages ties to the private sector, and creates new strategies for commercializing science. Thus, Open Science ends up contributing to the commercialization of science rather than overcoming its limitations; and the asymmetry between private and public science, present in the current plea to Open Science, ends up compromising the values that this ideal promotes.