RSYN’s Double Dipping Policy: A Fairer Publish & Read Access Model for Open Access Publishing

Open access should expand access, not multiply costs. That is the principle behind RSYN’s approach to double dipping. Under our Publish & Read Access model, if a university, library, or research lab already supports a hybrid journal or contributes annually to an open access journal, RSYN does not charge an APC for publishing in that journal.

This is not just a pricing decision. It is a commitment to fairness, transparency, and sustainable scholarly publishing. The goal is simple: reduce the burden on authors, prevent institutions from paying twice for the same content ecosystem, and help journals remain financially stable while publishing more freely accessible research.

What Double Dipping Means in Scholarly Publishing

“Double dipping” usually refers to a situation where a publisher or journal receives money from both sides of the same scholarly workflow. In the traditional hybrid model, institutions may pay subscription fees to read content, while authors or funders also pay APCs to make articles open access. When this happens without proper offsetting or transparency, the same academic community can end up paying twice.

That is where RSYN takes a different route. Instead of layering APCs on top of existing institutional support, RSYN recognizes the value already contributed by the subscribing or supporting institution. If access is already being funded through a valid institutional subscription or annual contribution, authors should not face an additional publication charge in that same journal.

How RSYN’s Publish & Read Access Model Works

RSYN’s Publish & Read Access model is designed to connect reading access with publishing support. If a university, library, or research laboratory subscribes to a hybrid journal or supports an open access journal through annual contribution, that institutional support is treated as part of the publishing ecosystem.

In such cases, RSYN waives the APC for authors publishing in that journal. This lowers the immediate cost barrier for researchers and encourages wider participation in scholarly publishing. At the same time, the journal continues to receive stable support, which helps cover editorial work, platform management, production, and long-term dissemination.

Why This Model Matters

The biggest problem in academic publishing is not only access—it is sustainability. Many institutions are under pressure to pay rising subscription costs, and many authors struggle to find APC funding. RSYN’s model addresses both issues by reducing unnecessary duplication of charges and aligning payment with real support already provided by institutions.

This approach is especially valuable for researchers in smaller departments, developing institutions, and resource-constrained labs. Instead of asking authors to pay again for a journal their institution already supports, RSYN encourages a more balanced system in which the existing contribution is recognized and used responsibly.

Benefits for Authors and Institutions

Lower APC burden: Authors affiliated with supported institutions do not have to pay again to publish in the same journal.
Fairer cost structure: Institutions are not charged twice for reading and publishing in the same publishing ecosystem.
Better sustainability: Journals continue to receive financial support while remaining accessible to readers.
Stronger trust: A transparent policy helps authors and institutions understand how publishing costs are handled.
More open dissemination: Reduced financial barriers can lead to more freely published research articles.

RSYN’s Editorial Position

RSYN believes that open access should not become a new form of hidden burden. The purpose of openness is to widen the reach of knowledge, not to create another layer of payment pressure. A publishing system that asks institutions to subscribe, contribute, and still pay APCs without offsetting is difficult to defend on ethical or practical grounds.

Our stance is clear: if the scholarly community is already supporting a journal through a valid subscription or annual contribution, authors should not be required to pay APCs for publishing in that journal. That is the essence of Publish & Read Access. It is a simple principle, but one with a meaningful impact on fairness in publishing.

Conclusion

RSYN’s double dipping policy is built to protect authors, respect institutional support, and strengthen sustainable open access publishing. By waiving APCs where publication support already exists, RSYN helps reduce unnecessary cost duplication and promotes a more equitable publishing environment.

In a time when academic publishing faces growing criticism over transparency and affordability, models like Publish & Read Access offer a practical path forward. They recognize that the research community should not be asked to pay twice for the same scholarly value.

A Fairer Publish & Read Access Model for Open Access Publishing