Paying for bmj.com: Move is a sensible surprise

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7427.1347-b

BMJ 2003;327:1347 (6 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7427.1347-b

Letter

Paying for bmj.com

Move is a sensible surprise

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

EDITOR—Ironically, I saw Delamothe and Smith's announcementabout paying for access to bmj.com when double checking theURL of the BMJ while writing a sentence in my MA dissertation:"Some journals, such as the British Medical Journal, are currentlyavailable free online to the general public."¹

This sentence, however, refers to access for health professionalsin developing countries. I therefore congratulate and admirethe decision to keep free access for lower and middle incomecountries while collecting from those more able to pay.

My only concern is that the BMJ Publishing Group may not becharging enough to sustain its services, cover the administrativecosts of collecting subscription fees, and still be able tosupport services such as INASP-Health (International Networkfor the Availability of Scientific Publications).

Christine Porter, learning designer

Ithaca, NY 14850, USA, cporter@ecornell.com

Competing interests: None declared.