A Collaborative Response from the COPIM Community
The Copim team has long been advocates for open access publishing and the development of community-led infrastructure to support it. As such, we were deeply concerned to hear the recent announcement from Knowledge Futures about the future of the PubPub platform.
PubPub has been an integral part of the open publishing landscape, serving as a home for numerous innovative projects and initiatives across disciplines. The news that the platform will be transitioning to a new “PubPub Platform” model, complete with an annual hosting fee, has understandably left many in our community worried about the future of their publications and the broader implications for open access.
In this in-depth article, we’ll share our perspective on the changes, explore the potential benefits and challenges, and outline our key questions for Knowledge Futures as they chart the path forward. Our goal is to provide a thoughtful, solutions-oriented response that reflects the values and needs of the diverse communities that rely on PubPub.
Self-Hosting Concerns and the Importance of Open Infrastructure
A core tenet of the Copim community is our commitment to “No Open Access Without Open Infrastructure.” This means that we strongly believe in the use of Free and Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) whenever possible, as this allows for the replication of core functionality on one’s own servers.
So, we were encouraged to see that Knowledge Futures has committed to providing a self-hostable version of the new PubPub Platform. This aligns with our values and could allow some communities to maintain their presence on the platform without the new hosting fees.
However, we do have some outstanding questions about the self-hosting option:
- Ongoing Development and Updates: Will the self-hosted version receive the same level of ongoing development and updates as the cloud-hosted PubPub Platform? Or will certain core functionalities be reserved for the paid tier?
- Technical Requirements: What will the technical requirements and documentation be for self-hosting? Will it be feasible for smaller organizations and initiatives to set up and maintain their own instances?
- Timeline: The announced timeline of May 2025 for the PubPub Platform transition seems very tight. Will there be sufficient lead time for communities to familiarize themselves with the self-hosting options and prepare for migration?
These are critical details that will determine whether the self-hosting path is truly viable for the wide range of communities that have come to rely on PubPub. We hope Knowledge Futures will provide clear answers and a roadmap to address these concerns.
Financial Pressures and Supporting Underrepresented Communities
We recognize the financial challenges that open infrastructure providers like Knowledge Futures face in maintaining their platforms. The announcement cites the need for a more sustainable revenue model as a key driver behind the PubPub Platform changes.
At Copim, we’ve grappled with similar issues in our own initiatives, such as the Thoth Open Metadata platform and the Open Book Collective. We’ve sought to balance the need for sustainable funding with our commitment to supporting smaller, underrepresented communities that may have limited resources.
In this light, we’re encouraged to see Knowledge Futures’ pledge to provide “pro-bono services to underrepresented communities on PubPub Platform.” However, we’d appreciate more clarity on how these communities will be identified and supported. Will there be a mechanism for them to confirm their eligibility for assistance?
Additionally, we hope that Knowledge Futures will consider a tiered pricing model for the hosting fees, rather than a fixed $3,500 rate. This could help ensure that smaller initiatives can continue to maintain a presence on the platform, even if they cannot afford the full hosting fee.
The Need for Community Governance
One of the key lessons we’ve learned at Copim is the importance of community governance for open infrastructures. When essential services are controlled by a single entity, there is always the risk of unexpected changes that can significantly impact the communities that rely on them.
While we appreciate Knowledge Futures’ willingness to work with existing PubPub users to devise strategies for the transition, we believe a more robust community governance model would provide greater long-term stability and confidence. This would allow the diverse range of PubPub users, including smaller and more fragile initiatives, to have a direct say in the platform’s future direction.
We’re curious to know if Knowledge Futures has any plans to introduce community governance principles as part of the PubPub Platform transition. Establishing clear channels for user input and collaborative decision-making could go a long way in ensuring that the platform continues to serve the needs of the entire ecosystem, not just the financial interests of its operators.
Collaborating for a Sustainable Future
The Copim community has greatly benefited from our partnership with Knowledge Futures over the years, and we remain committed to working together to find solutions that serve the broader open access publishing landscape.
Some ideas we’d like to explore further include:
- Umbrella Agreement for Smaller Communities: Could Knowledge Futures host a “Copim Community” on PubPub Platform, providing a home for smaller institutions or initiatives that cannot afford the hosting fees on their own?
- Transitional Support: Are there opportunities for Copim to assist in the development of self-hosting documentation, technical specifications, and deployment options to help ease the transition for PubPub communities?
- Open Source Alternatives: As Knowledge Futures looks to reduce proprietary dependencies in the new PubPub Platform, are they considering open source database solutions like Supabase as alternatives to the current Google Firebase integration?
We believe that by working collaboratively, we can navigate these challenges and ensure that open access publishing continues to thrive, with PubPub serving as a vital community-driven infrastructure.
Conclusion
The changes announced by Knowledge Futures for the PubPub platform have understandably caused significant concern within the Copim community and the broader open access publishing ecosystem. While we recognize the need for sustainable revenue models, we are committed to advocating for solutions that maintain accessibility, community governance, and the core principles of open infrastructure.
We look forward to engaging further with Knowledge Futures, both through the upcoming community call and in ongoing discussions, to better understand their plans and explore opportunities for collaboration. By working together, we believe we can chart a path forward that preserves the valuable role PubPub has played in supporting innovative, community-led publishing initiatives.
The Copim community stands ready to lend our expertise, resources, and collaborative spirit to this effort. We remain steadfast in our commitment to “No Open Access Without Open Infrastructure” and are determined to ensure that the future of PubPub aligns with the needs and values of the communities it serves.
