Does the MRC allow for exceptions?
If a researcher wishes to publish a paper in a journal that is unwilling to agree either to author/institution-ownership of copyright or to deposition in UKPMC within six months, the MRC may, in very exceptional cases, grant permission for authors to submit the paper for publication in such a journal. Such permission is likely to be granted only if a strong case can be made that the paper needs to be published in a particular journal and if there is evidence that the author has raised the issue with the publisher. Requests should be made in writing before the paper is formally submitted for the first time to Victoria Cassely (see 21, below), including details of: • Your current employing institution (or MRC unit) • Title and abstract of the paper • MRC grant reference number (if applicable) • The name of the journal you would like to submit the paper to, and the reasons for choosing that journal • The titles of at least two alternative journals that meet the MRCs Open Access policy • E
