A Statement from Paradigm’s Managing Director, Steve Fallon

On 18 February 2025, Clarivate announced its decision to end transactional eBook sales, opting instead for subscription-based models focused on the Academia and Government sectors. 

Once again, a major player in the research information ecosystem is making a decision that severely impacts the financial health of small and independent publishers. These smaller publishers lack proprietary direct-to-library platforms, and rely exclusively on aggregators like Clarivate’s ProQuest for global distribution. Clarivate’s shift to a subscription-only strategy leaves these publishers, including university presses, increasingly vulnerable in an academic market that has been forced to favor large, profit-driven conglomerates.

Coupled with the impending federal funding cuts to universities in the US, these changes underscore the urgent need for small publishers to reclaim control over their intellectual property and align with libraries and partners who share their values.

Paradigm Publishing Services remains resolute in our mission to advocate for and implement practices and models that protect and support the financially sustainable dissemination of academic work. We are committed to leading a coalition of small and independent publishers, libraries, and other stakeholders to champion equitable access and foster a scholarly community that values fairness and inclusivity over profit while ensuring financial sustainability.

I call upon other like-minded partners to join us in this crucial endeavor. This is a pivotal moment to heed the call to action and forge solutions that honor our collective commitment to independence, access, sustainability, and collaboration. Paradigm will organize a follow-up conference to the October 2024 Philadelphia meeting of independent publishers, university presses and libraries to elaborate concrete plans to support smaller and independent publishers in their fight to maintain their critical position in the academic landscape. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Tianna Snyder, Director of Publisher Relations at Paradigm Publishing Services.